NEW YORK — One of the New Years resolutions for the Rangers likely was to play better against their rivals, the New Jersey Devils. In their first two meetings this season, the Rangers were outscored by a combined total of 10-1 in games that were more notable for the multiple fights taking place during them.
On Thursday, the Rangers held their own in the first period and managed to tie things in the second and withstand a difficult third period to earn a point in a 3-2 overtime final at Madison Square Garden.
“Especially the way this season has gone, every game is important and every win is important,” Sam Carrick, who notched the game-winner in overtime, said. “The two points tonight is huge. It’s a step in the right direction.”
Down 1-0 after one period, the Devils scored on a pair to take the lead halfway through. Jack Hughes tipped a Brett Pesce shot in for his 16th career goal against the Rangers. Hughes has at least one point against the Blueshirts in 12 straight games between the rivals.
Jesper Bratt would give the Devils a 2-1 advantage in the second period, but the lead was shortlived thanks to an Artemi Panarin power play goal.
“In the beginning, [I felt] not great,” Panarin said. “I felt like I was too far from the puck all the time. That goal helped me and I felt so much better after.”
With 2:12 left in overtime, Carrick sent the Rangers home with a second point for the night.
“He’s played some good hockey for us,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “When a guy like that scores a goal, you’re really happy for him,”
Rangers special teams come through
Special teams were going to play a huge role for the Rangers as the Devils entered Thursday’s game with the second-best power play percentage in the NHL at just under 29 percent. The Rangers were tested twice in the first period and turned aside the Devils on all four of their power play opportunities in the game. On the other end, it was the power play for the Rangers that kept them in the game.
“You see a lot of these one goal, two goal games where makes the difference,” defenseman Adam Fox said. “It’s been a strong point of our team all year. We were able to score a couple and kill off all of them.”
For the first time since Nov. 30 against Montreal, the Rangers were successful on the power play multiple times and it accounted for both goals in the first two periods. Fox’s second goal of the season came seconds into the power play, sending the puck home off a faceoff following a Kurtis MacDermid interference call. Down a goal in the second period, Artemi Panarin sent home a rebound for his 17th goal of the season to tie the game at two.
“We talked before the game that special teams can 100 percent make a difference,” Laviolette said. “When you’re successful twice with your chances and turn them away on theirs, tonight was a perfect example of that.”
The two power play goals equalled the output by the Rangers with a man advantage in their last 12 games combined. Meanwhile, the Devils were unable to score on the power play after combining for five power play goals in their first two meetings this season.
Rempe returns on good behavior
Matt Rempe was off of his suspension and back on an NHL roster on Thursday, just in time to face the team that the Rangers get into fights with more often than anyone else. Despite the potential for another explosive chapter in the rivalry, Rempe was on his best behavior Thursday. In fact, no punches were thrown from either side. The closest we came was during a scuffle in front of the Devils net in the third period on a loose puck, but cooler heads prevailed.
Rempe had three minutes of ice time in each of the first two periods and laid a few hits, but was able to avoid the penalty box in his return to the lineup. Rempe finished the game with 7:47 of ice time and four total hits.
“I thought Rempe came in and gave us good minutes,” Laviolette said. “Put the puck behind him, tried to play physical, it was good.”
The Czar of the show returns
Igor Shesterkin was gone for four games and returned to the starting lineup in a key game for the Rangers for the Metropolitan division. Shesterkin was pressured throughout the game, including four shots on the second Devils power play of the game during the first period, but Shesterkin managed 21 saves in his return.
“It was great to see him back,” Panarin said. “He gives us a lot of confidence. We have two great goalies out there.”
It was initially called that Shesterkin had allowed a goal in the opening period, but a quick review showed that a shot by Luke Hughes never made it in the net.
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