On March 18, the New Jersey Devils made their way to Madison Square Garden for a face-off against the New York Rangers. Earlier this month, the Devils claimed a 6-3 victory over the Rangers, and this matchup followed a familiar script.
The Rangers opened the scoring, but the Devils quickly responded with two goals before the first period ended. The second period mirrored the first, with both teams trading goals, keeping the Devils ahead by one. In the final period, each team netted a goal before the Devils pulled away with two more, sealing another 6-3 win over their rivals.
Bratt Hits a Milestone
Jesper Bratt had a standout moment with five minutes left in the first period. After Gabe Perreault was penalized for holding Jack Hughes, the Devils capitalized on the power play. Hughes set up Bratt, who fired a shot that eventually found its way to Nico Hischier for the Devils' first goal.
Bratt’s assist marked his 500th NHL point, and he wasn’t finished. He later scored the final goal of the night, bringing his total to 501 points in 620 games-a remarkable achievement.
Bratt sits second on the Devils’ leaderboard with 54 points, tied with Hughes but ahead due to more goals. His contributions have been crucial, especially during Hughes’ absence.
Congrats to Bratt on reaching this milestone!
Special Teams Shine
The Devils’ special teams were on point, drawing four penalties from the Rangers and converting two into goals. Hischier’s power-play goal got them on the board, and another opportunity arose when Alexis Lafrenière was penalized for hooking Dawson Mercer. Just 15 seconds into the power play, Hughes set up Connor Brown to regain the lead.
The Devils’ penalty kill also stood strong, shutting down both of the Rangers’ power plays. Ranked 11th on the power play and 13th on the penalty kill, New Jersey’s special teams were a decisive factor in this victory.
Puck Control Dominance
Puck control was another key to the Devils’ success, limiting the Rangers to single-digit shots throughout the game. In the first period, the Devils outshot the Rangers 17 to 2, though New York managed to score on their second attempt.
The second period saw the Rangers take nine shots, their highest in a single period, but the Devils maintained their edge with 12 shots and two goals. The final period ended with the Devils outshooting the Rangers 10 to 7, scoring three times to secure the win.
By game’s end, the Devils had more than double the Rangers’ shots and doubled their score, thanks to their relentless puck control.
Next Stop: Washington
The Devils continue their road trip, heading to Washington to face the Capitals on March 20. They’ll wrap up the season series against the Rangers on March 31 at Madison Square Garden.