N.Y. Rangers: Chris Kreider Sticks Pitchfork Into Devils

From the desks: THE BRICK CITY STYX & RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON

I - NYR 4; NJD 3*

*shootout

Off-Broadway Kids Come Through Against Devils

Low and behold, Alexis Lafreniere and Kappo Kakko each played good games on the same night.  

After Adam Fox tied the game at one, Lafreniere scored at 11:24 of the second period on feeds from Kappo Kakko and Jacob Trouba.  It's only Lafreniere's fourth goal of the season and his first of November.  However, roughly two minutes later, Dougie Hamilton scored on a power play tying at two.

The Rangers failed to score with a man advantage in the third, but immediately after Newark's successful penalty kill, Kappo Kakko scored assisted by Ryan Strome.  But you know me ... if the Rangers had a top-flight center, Kakko doesn't need to fill the lane.  Kappo's second-period assist and third-period goal are his first two points this season.  They come in his eleventh game.

Together, Alexis Lafreniere and Kappo Kakko have tallied a grand total of six points.

Meanwhile, Chris Kreider continues killing it.  His game-winning goal in the seventh round of Sunday's shootout may not count on the back of his baseball card.  But his two goals against the Blue Jackets are etched in stone.  Kreider has now scored a goal in nine of 15 games played and has 14 points.  Two consecutive games are the longest he's gone this season without a goal.

Pavel Zacha scored at 16:17 of the third period to send this game into overtime.  It was his seventh goal this season.

Mackenzie Blackwood was forced to leave the ice midway through the third period with an upper-body injury.  Jonathan Bernier closed out regulation time, held the Rangers scoreless in overtime, and denied them through six shootout rounds.

Making his fourth start, Alexandar Georgiev stopped 24 of 27 shots.

N.J. Devils: Newark Offers Wandering Long Islanders No Quarter

From the desks: THE BRICK CITY STYX & LONG ISLAND NOMADS

THURSDAY

Islanders   0

DEVILS      4

FINAL

Islanders Arrive on Familiar But Unfriendly Shores

Newark, New Jersey, is the closest the Islanders have been to home base since departing for an Oct. 14 game at Carolina in the first stop of a Homeric-like season-opening 13 game road Odyssey.  

The Isles defeated the Winnipeg Jets but lost to the Minnesota Wild on the very next night.  Four days later, they sailed up the Hudson River where their metropolitan area neighbors on Thursday night offered them no quarter.  

With their defeat at the hand of the Devils, the Long Islanders are now 5-4-2 with two more road games left before finally swinging the doors open at the brand new UBS Center at Belmont.

I know Barry Trotz isn't one for excuses and is not exactly pleased with their play of late, but I believe the Islanders are still in a good place and that a significant correction will occur when they play 12 of 20 games at home through Christmas.

Semyon Varlamov finally made his 2021-2022 debut during the Isles Nov. 7 game against Minnesota, who went wild with five goals but only three off Semyon, who stopped 34 of 37 shots on goal.  But Varlamov did not earn a second straight start.  Enter Ilya Sorokin.  Making his tenth start and coming off a shutout over Winnipeg, this may have been both Barry Trotz's and Ilya Sorokin's most frustrating game to date.

Long Island's power-play in the first period fell apart like wet toilet paper.  At 12:12, Janne Koukannen capped off a flurry of activity in front of Ilya Sorokin with a shorthanded goal on assists from P.K. Subban and Nico Hischier.

With 0:50 left in the second period, Tomas Tartar scored during a Devil power-play on feeds from Dougie Hamilton and Pavel Zacha.

Dawson Mercer gave Newark a 3-0 lead at 5:46 into the third period, assisted by Andreas Johnsson and Jesper Bratt. Approximately eleven minutes later, Dougie Hamilton closed out the scoring with his third goal this season at the 16:33 mark.

However, the clear star of the game was Newark goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.  He faced 42 shots on net and stopped them all, including 35 at even-strength and five on special teams.  It marks his second consecutive win through three starts and his first shutout this season. 

The Devils improve to 7-3-2, just four points behind the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes.

Next, the Islanders set sail for Tampa.

 

N.Y. Rangers: Igor Shesterkin Blanks Devils at the Rock

From the desks: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS & THE BRICK CITY STYX

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON

Rangers lead Devils; 3-2

I - NJD 4; NYR 3

II - NJD 5; NYR 2

III - NYR 6; NJD 1

IV - NYR 6; NJD 3

V - NYR 3; NJD 0

Fists Fly in the Battle Between Two Rebuilding Locals

Igor Shesterkin earns his first career NHL shutout as the Rangers blanked the punchless Devils at Prudential Center.  Newark was both plus-seven in faceoffs and shots on goal and even the beneficiaries of two power-play opportunities.  But the Rangers' 25-year old goalie faced 27 shots and stopped them all, including four on special teams.

It's worth noting the Devils were playing without Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac's services - traded to the Isles - and centerman and team Captain Nico Hischier finally made his reappearance on the ice.

Mika Zibanejad opened the scoring at 7:02 of the first period on a breakaway set up by Pavel Buchnevich and Adam Fox feeds.  After a scoreless second session, Artemi Panarin scored at 7:50 of the third on Filip Chytil and Fox assists.  Pavel Buchnevich then closed out the scoring on an unassisted short-handed goal into an empty net with just 0:28 seconds left in regulation.   

Mackenzie Blackwood has enjoyed better days.  His defensemen offered zero help on Zibanejad's goal.  Otherwise, he faced just 19 shots, stopping all but two.

With two more assists, Adam Fox has 34 points in 41 games.  Mike Zibanejad now has four goals and six points in his last seven games and 30 points in his last 27 games.

Damon Severson and Chris Kreider wasted little time exchanging pleasantries and punches just 1:27 into the game.  Later in the second period, Brendan Smith and Michael McCleod also decided a tussle was in order.

Hostilities resume Thursday.  The Rangers and Devils play three more times over the next five days.

N.J. Devils: Look What the Capitals Did to Newark, Again

From the desk: THE BRICK CITY STYX

FRIDAY

Capitals 2

Devils   1

FINAL/OT

Devils Woes Against Capitals Go Unchanged; Fall to 0-7 in Season Series

Just brutal ... like being jabbed with your own pitchfork.

Mackenzie Blackwood had just made a brilliant save against T.J. Oshie to keep overtime moving along.  At the other end, Jack Hughes was likewise denied a game-winning opportunity by Capitals goalie Vitek Vanecek.  Washington then recovered the loose puck and promptly headed the other way.  With just 0:21 seconds left in the extra session, Dmitry Orlov, from the left circle, wristed a high shot past Blackwood's right shoulder for the win. 

It seemed somewhat inevitable.  Like an omen, Orlov proved problematic for the Devils throughout this game.  Tied with Alex Ovechkin, he co-led the Capitals with six shots on goal.  In fact, both Washington goals came courtesy of defensemen.

After a scoreless first period, Washington's John Carlson opened the scoring at 8:22 of the second period.  Within four and a half minutes, Michael McLeod tied the game at one.  But the Caps and Devils would again duel through a scoreless third period.

The Devils had their chances.  They put three shots on goal during overtime versus two by the Caps.  But whereas Vitek Vanecek stopped all but one of Newark's 23 shots on goal, Mackenzie Blackwood was peppered with 40 shots on goal by Washington.  Both goalies turned in stellar performances, relatively speaking, that is.  Otherwise, for Blackwood, this was as tough luck as they come. 

Meanwhile, forwards Yegor Sharangovich and Travis Zajac, along with blueliners Ty Smith, Damon Severson, and P.K. Subban, exit the ice with a minus-one. 

Newark is yet to defeat the Capitals in seven games now.  This game marks their second overtime loss against them.  The Devils are also trending again with four losses in their last five games.

N.J. Devils: Mackenzie Blackwood Turns Away Bruins

From the desk: THE BRICK CITY STYX

Devils lead Bruins; 4-1

I - BOS 3; NJD 2*

II - NJD 2; BOS 1#

III - NJD 3; BOS 2

IV - NJD 1; BOS 0

V - NJD 1; BOS 0

*shootout

#overtime

Devils Extend Win Streak to Four Against Boston

Kyle Palmieri's goal at 16:37 of the first period holds up.  It was his seventh of the season.  He now has 16 points in 32 games making the Smithtown, Long Island, native a little more attractive to other teams as the NHL trade deadline approaches.  Since arriving from Anaheim, Kyle has touched or topped 20 goals in each of his first five seasons with the Devils.  Were it not for last year's pandemic shortened schedule, he was on pace for the second 30 goal season in his career but finished with 25 goals and 20 assists in 65 games.

Ty Smith's 17th assist ties his for team-lead with 19 points; Jesper Bratt picked up the second assist on Palmieri's goal.

Boston unleashed 40 shots on goal, and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped them all for his first shutout of the season.  Nine saves came on special teams and 31 at even strength.  He made 17 saves in the third period but none more important than his kick-save with just seven seconds left in regulation - absolute thievery.  It's the Devils' second blanking of the Bruins.  Three weeks ago, Scott Wedgewood likewise shutout the Bruins in a 1-0 final.

The Devils and Bruins resume hostilities on Tuesday.  Afterwhich, Newark hosts the Washington Capitals.  The Devils are winless in six games this season against the Capitals.  However, they have now taken four of five games against the Boston Bruins.

Captain Nico Hischier remains out.  He has played just five games this season.  

Surging New Jersey Devils Set Sights on Washington

From the desk: THE BRICK CITY STYX

Flyers lead Devils; 2-1

I - PHI 5; NJD 3 

II - PHI 3; NJD 1

III - NJD 4; PHI 3

Storming the Capital ... Hockey Team of Washington D.C., That Is.  Tell Your Friends.

No one is trying to kid anybody.  The Devils, like the Rangers, are still a rebuilding club.  They place respectively seventh and sixth in the division as a direct result of Buffalo's ongoing implosion.  Otherwise, the Devils and Rangers would be fighting a four-point battle between seventh and last place.

Of course, with rebuilding come tempered expectations.  There is no need to tell Devils fans, who very recently suffered through a 4-10-2 stretch after the team's return from a mass observance of COVID protocol.  During that time, I remember P.K. Subban one night in post-game commentary saying (paraphrasing) that these Devils still had more learning to do.

The education continues, and Newark is suddenly trending with wins in four of their last five games versus the aforementioned moribund Sabres, two of three from the Penguins, and Tuesday's win against the flummoxed Flyers.  The regularly scheduled follow-up game against the Flyers had already been postponed due to COVID, this time affecting Philadelphia's camp.

Therefore, the Devils will re-engage the Washington Capitals in a back-to-back set on Thursday and Friday.  It will be interesting to see how the seemingly smarter and (moreover) healthier New Jersey rank and file measure up.  

The Devils this season are 0-4 against the Caps, getting outscored by an 11-17 margin.  But if the Devils are, in fact, trending in the right direction, and they have indeed finally shaken off the last remnants of COVID from their systems, then they just might be up for the task. 

🏒

On Tuesday, the Devils scored early and held on late to defeat the Flyers for the first time in three tries.  Michael McCleod opened the scoring midway through the first period.  After the Flyers tied the game, Kyle Palmieri put the Devils back ahead on a power-play goal with just 0:06 left in the period.  The second period was all Newark.  Goals from Yegor Sharangovich and Travis Zajac staked the Devils to a 4-1 lead.  Zajac similarly closed out the period with his fourth goal of the season with a mere 0:24 seconds showing on the clock.  The Devils then withstood two goals by Philadelphia, the second coming too late, by Sean Couturier at 18:58 of the third period.  

Rookie blueliner Ty Smith assisted on Newark's first and last goals, giving him 17 points in 20 games.

Mackenzie Blackwood faced 33 shots back in net, making nine saves on special teams and 30 saves overall.  He allowed one goal on the PK in the first and two goals at even strength in the third.

N.J. Devils: Mackenzie Blackwood Puts Penguins Into Deep Freeze

From the desk: THE BRICK CITY STYX

Devils lead Penguins; 2-1

I - NJD 3; PITT 2

II - PITT 3; NJD 1

III - NJD 2; PITT 1*

*overtime

Three Wins in Four Games is a Trend

And that's a wrap!

Jesper Bratt's wraparound goal at the 2:50 mark of overtime was just as artful as the weaving and assists he received from Ty Smith and Pavel Zacha.  

With the Devils coming off Saturday's loss at Newark, Sidney Crosby opened the scoring on Sunday just 3:37 into the first period.  There would be no change in scoring until 4:48 of the second period on Sami Vatanen's second goal of the season.  And that's the way things stayed for the remaining 35:12 minutes left of regulation.

Mackenzie Blackwood returned between the pipes.  He faced 35 total shots, including three on the PK, and stopped all but one during even strength.  Otherwise, after yielding Crosby's goal in the first, Blackwood shut out the Penguins over the final 59:13 minutes of play.

The Devils played near equal hockey, as did their competition.  They finished just minus-one in shots on goal, minus-two in hits, and plus-two in face-offs won.  Both teams were scoreless in two power-play opportunities each.

After playing Pittsburgh three times in four days, including back-to-back nights, the Devils come away with two wins out of three.  They are now 3-1 in their last four.  There's a chance, as I suggested when writing about Mika Zibanejad, many Devils players might finally be getting over any lingering effects of the COVID virus and needing to adhere to quarantine protocols.  

Heading In Opposite Directions, Islanders and Devils Speed Past Each Other In The Night

From the desks: THE BRICK CITY STYX  &  LONG ISLAND NOMADS

Islanders lead Devils; 3-1

I - NYI 4; NJD 1

II - NJD 2; NYI 0

III - NYI 2; NJD 1

THURSDAY

(1-3) Devils    3

(3-1) Islanders 5

FINAL

Long Island Is On Fire While Newark Remains Frozen In Ice

Another day, another twenty-minute performance by the New Jersey Devils.  In a near mirror image of their contest against Washington, in which they trailed the Capitals 4-1 after two periods, the Devils fell behind the Islanders 4-0 after two periods.  The Devils scored three times in the third period against the Caps but ultimately lost that game in overtime.  Thursday against the Isles, Newark again rallied for three goals in the third, but it clearly wasn't enough. 

Newark successfully killed off five penalties, which is to say they were completely overrun at even-strength.  They generated just 12 shots on goal through the first two periods and 22 shots overall versus 33 for Long Island.  Meanwhile, the Devils power-play hasn't scored since Feb. 27, against the Capitals.

After two more consecutive losses, the Devils have now lost ten of their last 14 games since returning from quarantine.  Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood appears in lockstep.  Back in January, he posted a .947 SV% through his first three games.  He then registered a decreased .904 SV% over seven games in February.  So far in March, Blackwood owns a .815 SV% through three games.  Through 13 games, he presently sports a .900 SV% and a troublesome 3.13 GAA.

This may be an unpopular take, but the Devils should seriously consider trading Kyle Palmieri and P.K. Subban.  After all, they are a rebuilding team.  Despite a minus-18 point differential and a division-low 58-goals for, the Devils nevertheless appear settled at the center.  There are other good young talents here.  But the Devils have clear deficiencies on the blue line.  Therefore, trade remaining assets and continue forging ahead with a full rebuild.

Lest we forget, the New York Islanders are in first place for a reason.  They own a plus-twenty point differential (28 points better than Newark), and with 38 points in 27 games, the Isles continue leading the division by two points over the relentless Washington Capitals.

Congratulations are in order.  Thursday's game marks Barry Trotz's 100th victory as coach of the Isles.

For the first time this season, the home team also played in front of a limited number of Long Island fans.  Those in attendance got to watch their Islanders win its seventh straight game and ninth win in their last ten.  The bad news is they also watched their Captain Anders Lee exit the ice due to an injury.  He is expected to miss some time.  He clearly appeared in pain, but the severity of the (undisclosed) injury is still unclear.  Anders Lee leads the team with both 80 shots on net and twelve goals in 27 games.  There's no denying he is among the league's toughest and most effective goal area loiterers.  If there's a loose puck, he finds it and converts.  

Getting the call, Ilya Sorokin saw little action through the game's first forty minutes.  However, the Isles eased off the throttle.  In turn, the Devils generated ten third-period shots on goal and found net three times.  In his eighth start, Sorokin nevertheless stopped 19 of 22 shots en route to his fifth straight win of the season.

Elusive New Jersey Devils Defense Disappears Back Into The Pine Barrens

From the desks: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS  &  THE BRICK CITY STYX

BATTLE OF THE HUDSON

Series Tied; 2-2

I - NJD 4; NYR 3

II - NJD 5; NYR 2

III - NYR 6; NJD 1

IV - NYR 6; NJD 3

Bad Just Got Worse For The Devils; Ice Cracking Beneath Their Skates

Straight out of the Pine Barrens ... Newark's defense has been as elusive as the mythical New Jersey Devil itself.  Having lengthened their losing streak to five, they are now losers of eight of eleven games since returning from COVID quarantine, over which time they've been outscored by a 40-27 margin.

The visiting Rangers over the last two games account for twelve of those goals; six on Thursday and six more Saturday afternoon.  Six goals are the most rendered this season by the Devils to any opponent through 20 games, much less in consecutive games.  

Talk about problems of the macro/micro variety ... New Jersey couldn't keep Chris Kreider (hat trick) from loitering around the net two days ago and appeared stuck in the Pineland muck as Adam Fox went endzone to endzone and scored just 2:06 six into Saturday's game.

Trailing 2-0 in the first, P.K Subban scored at the 14:54 mark.  Just 0:17 seconds later, Mikhail Maltsev tied the game at two.  But outside of Nathan Bastian's inconsequential goal at 17:48 of the third, Newark went missing for the final forty minutes of play.

Mackenzie Blackwood was faced with killing five Rangers' power plays.  He allowed one goal and made five saves.  Blackwood otherwise allowed four even-strength goals while making 17 saves, and 22 saves in 27 shots overall.  The Rangers' sixth goal was into an empty net.  This comes on the heels of getting yanked early in the third period of Thursday's game, in which he yielded four goals on just 15 shots.

🏒

Victories Over Buffalo And Newark Are Little To Write Lester Patrick About, But The Kids And Grown-Ups Are Finally Learning How To Play Together

The 21-year old Filip Chytil, since returning from injury three games ago, is a plus-four with a goal and two assists.  It's worth noting he went scoreless in his first game back, which really gives him three points in his last two games.  Chytil was the primary assist on Kevin Rooney's goal late in the first period helping the Rangers regain a 3-2 lead.  Filip then scored at 8:38 of the third, giving the Rangers a more comfortable 5-2 lead.  It's his third goal in only eight games played this season and his first since Jan. 22 at Pittsburgh.  

Meanwhile, Mike Zibanejad was a minus-one with just one shot on goal in back-to-normal shifts and time on ice.  However, he appeared to be in some discomfort during the closing minutes of the game.  Bruised or not, I would again urge Coach to start Filip Chytil on the first line.  There's no sense in disrupting Ryan Strome's role on the second line, not coming off two goals on Saturday and four points in these last two games against the Devils.  He's planted his flag with eight goals and 17 points through 22 games.  Therefore, I say put Mika Zibanejad on the third line for a spell.  Everything Coach Quinn does is already transient in nature.  This would be no different.  Sometimes the best decisions start out being the most unpopular ones.  Otherwise, the Rangers received four goals from their centermen against the Devils on Saturday.

Just 1:33 into the game, Sami Vatanen was whistled for a mindless high-sticking penalty against Brendan Lemieux - not the other way around!  Enter Adam Fox, who at 0:36 into the power play, goes end-to-end, splitting the Devils PK unit straight down the middle, and scored unassisted sans his goalie Alexandar Georgiev.  Cycling back to Lemieux, I'm copacetic with his 12:49 minutes at even strength and a fleeting moment on the power play.

Playing in his first game since Feb. 18, Kaapo Kakko assisted on Ryan Strome's first-period goal.  Also, with an assist, Chris Kreider now has twelve points in his last nine games.  Likewise, with an assist, Pavel Buchnevich now has five points in his last three games.

Similar to the way New jersey started the first period, just 1:05 into the second session, they again commit one of the cardinal sins in hockey when Rangers' blueliners K'Andre Miller and Libor Hajek catch Newark napping.  Hajek converts a Miller feed for only his second goal in 45 career games as a Ranger.  In fact, Blueshirt defensemen contributed two goals and four points.  Even Jack Johnson administered five hits and committed no penalties, and Brendan Smith led the team with four shots on goal.

Still, minus Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba, the Rangers are now winners of three straight.  These last two victories against the Devils just happen to be the Rangers' ninth and tenth wins of the season. 

Getting the start in place of the injured Igor Shesterkin, Alexandar Georgiev stopped all but three of 27 shots; two saves on special teams.  Georgiev will have a quick turnaround as the Rangers take on the Penguins at Pittsburgh on Sunday.

N.Y. Rangers: No Shot Against Devils Mackenzie Blackwood

From the desks: RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS & THE BRICK CITY STYX

Battle of the Hudson - I

TUESDAY

Devils       4

Rangers    3

FINAL

The Rangers commit one of the cardinal sins of hockey: allowing a goal inside the first two minutes or the last two minutes of a period.  Entering his fifteenth year with the Devils, Travis Zajac does just that, scores within the first 32-seconds of the game.  Thus, the Rangers play from behind all night.  

At practice, Coach Quinn implored his team to take more shots.  That translated into fifty shots on goal against the Devils.  The problem is Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 47 of them.  New Jersey's goalie stopped 33/34 shots at even strength, and 14/16 on the penalty kill.  Said another way, the Rangers averaged 2.6 shots per power play, but cashed in twice, first by Chris Kreider early in the second, then midway through the period by Mika Zebanejad.  Filip Chytil scored the Rangers' lone even-strength goal seven minutes into the third.

There's still no getting around the fact Blackwood and (centerman) Jack Hughes were for all intent and purpose the best two players on the ice.  Hughes, the Devils 2019 number one overall draft pick scored two goals within five minutes of each other in a back and forth second period and later assisted on another.

Alexandar Georgiev made his second straight start.  However, this one didn't go as well as his first.  Georgiev faced just twenty shots, stopping only sixteen, all at even strength.  Coach Quinn relieved him with Igor Shesterkin for the third period.  Meanwhile, the Rangers afford the Devils just two power-play opportunities.

gee I wish the #NYR had drafted a center ... just saying.

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) January 20, 2021

Rangers vs. Devils: Battle of the Hudson Resumes

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS & THE BRICK CITY STYX

BATTLE of the HUDSON

TUESDAY

New Jersey Devils

vs.

New York Rangers

FROM

The 33rd Street Ice House

DEVILS PUSH BOSTON BRUINS TO OUTER LIMITS

Playing for new head coach Lindy Ruff, the young New Jersey Devils wrapped up two tightly contested games against the Bruins.  Last Thursday's season opener saw the Devils fall behind late in the first period on a power-play goal by Brad Marchand.  Miles Wood ties the game at the 8:51 mark of the third.  After yielding a second power-play goal to the Bruins, Ty Smith ties the game at two, and into overtime, they go.  After a scoreless extra session, Newark comes up empty in the shootout.  Brad Marchand once again finds the back of the net against Mackenzie Blackwood.

On Saturday, the Devils answer back.  Miles Wood opens the scoring at 16:15 of the first period.  But the Bruins tie late in the second on a short-handed goal from Patrice Bergeron.  After a scoreless third period, the two teams once again head into overtime.  Mackenzie Blackwood pitches a shutout, and with just 0:01 left on the clock, KHL vet and 22-year old NHL rookie Yegor Sharangovich scores his first career goal with the Devils ... game over.

• Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, through two games, has faced 65 shots on goal, with 62 saves.  All three goals against have come on special teams.  
• Jack Hughes, through two games, has assisted on all three N.J. goals.  
• Travis Zajac begins his fifteenth season with the Devils.
• Nico Hischier remains out with a leg injury.
• The Devils and Rangers will play four games straight game in April.

A LOOK BACK AT RECENT DRAFTS

• 2017 - Devils select (C) Nico Hischier with the number one overall pick; Rangers select (C) Filip Chytil with the 21st overall pick.
• 2018 - Devils select (D) Ty Smith 17th overall.
• 2019 - Devils select (C) Jack Hughes with the first overall pick of the draft; Rangers select (RW) Kaapo Kakko with the very next pick (second overall).
• 2020 - Rangers select (LW) Alexis Lafreniere with the first overall pick of the draft; Devils select (RW) Alexander Holtz with the seventh overall pick. 

Alexis LaFreniere and Kaapo Kakko are both just nineteen years old.  Selected in the first round of the 2018 draft, K'Andre Miller is about to join 2017 first-round pick Filip Chytil as the team's resident 21-year olds.  Otherwise, the Rangers have fifteen players age twenty-five or younger and just two players over thirty years old.

ISLANDERS ADMINISTER OPENING NIGHT BEATDOWN

In last Thursday's opener against the Islanders, Igor Shesterkin faced 33 shots and made 29 saves, allowing two power-play goals and two at even strength.  At the other end of the ice, Semyon Varlamov faced just 24 shots by the Rangers, stopping them all for the shutout.  The Rangers' shot total is a direct result of affording the Islanders eight power-play opportunities.  You can't generate offense if you're too busy killing penalties.  Mika Zibanejad, who battled COVID, led the Rangers in shifts and with five shots on goal.  No other Ranger exceeded two shots on goal.  Once the Islanders achieved a 4-0 lead in the second, all they needed to ensure was the Rangers stayed in their playpen.

REMATCH: RUGRATS STRIKE BACK

As if with a flip of a switch, the Rangers roll the Islanders in likewise fashion on Saturday.  This time, the Isles afford the Rangers seven PP opportunities, who convert once in the third period.  Conversely, the Rangers limit the Islanders to four opportunities.  The Islanders still won face-offs 31-25, but unlike Thursday, the Rangers played more even-strength hockey and thus put more shots on goal.  Pavel Buchnevich sent an early message with an opening goal at the 2:12 mark of the first.  Artemi Panarin made it a 2-0 game midway through the period.  Buchnevich scored his second goal in the second period, and youngster Kaapo Kakko scored his first.  Panarin capped off the Rangers scoring in the third also with his second goal of the game.  

The performance in goal was similarly like night and day.  Alexandar Georgiev made the start.  He faced 23 shots and stopped them all for the shutout.  But unlike Thursday, the Rangers played far more competently in front of Georgiev than for Igor Shesterkin.