The New York Rangers came out victorious in their first matchup against the New Jersey Devils this season, with a 4-0 shutout win on Tuesday night. The Rangers relied heavily on their standout goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, and a strong defensive effort in order to keep the Devils at bay. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the key players and moments that contributed to the Rangers’ Game 1 win, and assess what this could mean for the rest of their season.
The New York Rangers kicked off the Eastern Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a one-sided 5-1 win against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Tuesday. Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers’ goalie, was a major force on the ice, making 27 saves and only conceding the Devils’ Jack Hughes penalty shot in the final minutes. Rangers’ forward Chris Kreider lauded Shesterkin, “More often than not, he’s our best player. He certainly was tonight.” It was clear that the 18 skaters played well in front of Shesterkin, as the Rangers did everything to slow down the super speedy Devils.
The Rangers have set a goal of winning the Stanley Cup, and if they are to succeed, Shesterkin will need to continue playing at this level. The Rangers’ smart play began from the start, building a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game, blocked shots, put sticks in passing lanes, limited turnovers, dominated special teams, and avoided risky plays. The Devils, who had built their success this season on speed and had a team-record 52 wins, could not maintain their momentum as the Rangers played intelligently throughout the game.
The win by the Rangers in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series was critical, as they avoided giving away turnovers and odd-man rushes and foreclosed opportunities for the Devils. While Shesterkin played exceptionally, it was the team’s solid play that led to the win. The Rangers’ ability to capitalize on their strengths, not only on the special teams but also their collective effort, set them up for success.
As the Rangers celebrate their Game 1 victory over the Devils, they can thank their rookie goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, and their stingy defense for playing a crucial role in slowing down the opposition. The team’s ability to clamp down on the Devils’ offensive threats and limit their scoring chances turned out to be the difference-making factor in the game. Heading into the rest of the series, the Rangers will need to maintain this level of play if they hope to continue their winning ways. Nevertheless, with a solid foundation to build on, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic for the Blueshirts moving forward.
