It is a privilege to return in a third period, but the Rangers cannot expect the same fate twice.
However, this is exactly what the Blueshirts got when the Devils gifted them a late-game power play that Micah Zibnazad capitalized on to break the cap and secure a 5–3 win Sunday afternoon at Prudential Center. The victory completed the Devils’ four-game sweep, which the Rangers desperately needed to hang on to the playoff race.
The Rangers held a 3–1 lead in the third period, but for the second straight game, the Devils buried two quick goals, with plenty of games left. On Saturday, the Devils only came within one and never managed to tie it. But this time around two needed a score.
But Devils defenseman Ryan Murray was caught high-sticking Rangers Capo Kako, giving the Rangers a timely advantage. Jibanezad carried on Pavel Buchaniewicz’s birthday spell and knocked the winner of the game out of the house for three minutes.
Ryan Strohm was then hooked on the way to an empty-net goal and credited with a 5–3 tally.
The Rangers had a scare at the end of the first period, when goalkeeper Alexander Georgiev had to be helped off the ice and hobbled down the tunnel in favor of his left foot. Igor Sesterin clocked 2:19 of ice time to finish the period before Georgiev started the second.
Georgiev was able to end the game, setting aside 25 of 28 shots.
The Rangers spent the opening 20 minutes in the defensive zone as the Devils continued possession. But whenever the Devils made a mistake, the Rangers bounced, as they did the entire series.
Boxing with Devils captain Nico Hesheer to provoke Jacob Trouba, who was quickly latching on to the hit and drew his opponents ‘ire for it, capitalized the Rangers’ power play. Zibanejad hit Chris Kreider for an easy tap, which marked a career-high 10 power-play goals on the season.
In the latter period, the Devils made a turnover in their defensive zone and Brett Howden swooped on the loose puck before hitting a first-timer to Vitaly Kravtsov and his first NHL goal at 14:03. This was counted when Kravtsov was eliminated in Thursday’s match, when the play was misunderstood.
Despite coming off the bench cold after Georgiev’s injury, Shisterkin made a big save as Jack Hughes hit a stunning Marianne Stadnik with seconds left.
With just five minutes left in the middle frame, Alexis Lafreniere trailed the race for a 3–0 score.
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