Devils Mother Rangers in Shutout Victory | GAME HISTORY

On By Littum

Here are some observations from the game:

• With his two-goal performance this afternoon, Jack Hughes has four goals in two games against Rangers this season. Both Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick have given up two runs to Hughes.

Hughes’ two-goal afternoon was his 18th and 19th points in his last 12 games, adding to a torrid pace for New Jersey. And who else but Jesper Bratt assists on both goals for his 30th and 31st assist of the season.

• The Devils have had a knack for suffocating their opponents in the first period, giving them very few shots on net. The Rangers managed just five shots on Jacob Markstrom on Monday afternoon.

In their recent games, the Devils have limited their opposition to single-digit shots on net (5,5,7,5,2,1,1,8 and 5) dating back to Dec. 2 when they gave up 12 to the Rangers in Madison Square Garden.

• The second period was a masterclass for the Devils, holding the Rangers to just five shots while scoring two goals to take a 3-0 lead.

• The opening 5:30 of the game was jam-packed with action, from Jack Hughes’ opening goal to a battle between Paul Cotter and Vincent Trocheck and a scrum after a save that resulted in a number of penalties, including Stefan Noesen initially being called for a hook on Mika Zibanejad and Timo Meier, who engaged in a fight with Artemi Panarin. Both Meier and Panarin were called for scrubbing.

With less than a minute left in the period, Brenden Dillon and Sam Carrick also dropped their gloves, resulting in five minutes each to play.

• Both Cotter and Trocheck, who received five-minute penalties, ended up staying in the box for an additional six minutes while waiting for a stoppage in play. Because their punishments were games against the majors, they had to serve the full five minutes before being let out. And unlike a regular minor penalty, they have to wait for a stoppage in play to leave. It was only over six minutes past five that they were finally able to play again.

• The Rangers made Chris Kreider a healthy scratch against the Devils. Kreider is currently the longest-tenured Ranger on the New York roster.