Devils Nearing Playoff Berth as They Blank Rival Rangers, 4-0
NEWARK, N.J. — Early Saturday afternoon, the New York Rangers made the short 11-mile trip across the Hudson River to the Prudential Center, desperate for a win against their bitter rivals, the New Jersey Devils. But for the third time in a row this season, the Devils had their number—this time in dominant fashion.
Backed by a flawless performance from goaltender Akira Schmid, who turned away all 31 shots he faced, the Devils shut out the Rangers 4-0, pushing themselves one step closer to securing a playoff berth.
“This was a statement game,” said Devils head coach Lindy Ruff. “The intensity, the discipline—we brought everything we needed to today, especially against a team like the Rangers.”
First Period: Fast Start, No Looking Back
The tone was set just five minutes into the game, when Jack Hughes capitalized on a turnover in the neutral zone and ripped a wrist shot past Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin to give the Devils an early 1-0 lead.
From there, the Devils controlled the pace, dominating puck possession and generating high-danger chances. Jesper Bratt extended the lead with a power-play goal late in the first period, burying a slick cross-ice feed from Nico Hischier.
“We were aggressive on the forecheck and smart with the puck,” Hughes said after the game. “That’s the kind of hockey we need to keep playing down the stretch.”
Second Period: Defense and Discipline
The Rangers tried to claw back in the second, but Schmid stood tall, making key stops on breakaways by Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider. The Devils’ blue line, anchored by Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler, kept the Rangers to the outside and limited second-chance opportunities.
A costly double-minor for high-sticking against New York’s Jacob Trouba gave the Devils a four-minute power play midway through the period, and they made it count. Timo Meier deflected a point shot from Hamilton to make it 3-0, silencing the traveling Rangers fans.
Third Period: Closing the Door
The Devils continued to apply pressure in the third, refusing to sit back. With just over six minutes remaining, Dawson Mercer sealed the deal with a short-handed goal—his 20th of the season—after intercepting a pass at the blue line and racing in on a breakaway.
From there, the focus was all on protecting the shutout for Schmid, who received a standing ovation as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
Playoff Picture: Almost There
With the win, the Devils (now 44-28-7) moved into the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, just two points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins with three games remaining. Meanwhile, the Rangers, who had already clinched a postseason berth, saw their hopes of catching Carolina for the top spot in the Metro take a hit.
“This team has grown a lot,” Ruff said. “Last season we were building. Now we’re pushing. Games like this show that we’re ready.”
What’s Next
The Devils face the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night in another critical matchup, while the Rangers return to Madison Square Garden to take on the Montreal Canadiens. Both teams will be watching the standings closely as the regular season winds down.
But if Saturday’s game was any indication, the Devils are peaking at just the right time—and may be ready to make noise in the postseason.
