Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt made on special team 87 seconds apart in the second period when New Jersey Devils beat the New York Rangers 4-0 on Saturday afternoon in Newark, NJ
Meier’s power-play goals and Bratt’s short-handed marker gave the devils (41-29-7, 89 points) his third victory over Rangers in four matchups this season. New Jersey won its third straight and for the fourth time in five matches.
Meier added to his second goal in the competition with 4:59 left to effectively seal questions for the devils. Nico Hischier scored an empty net goal with 3:48 left after setting up New Jersey’s first two numbers.
Jacob Markstrom made 26 rescues, including four on New York’s first power play during the second period just before the devils went on. Markstrom noted his fourth suspension this season and others over Rangers.
Rangers (36-33-7, 79 points) were denied its first winning line of three games since November 14-19. New York failed to win three straight for the eighth time since mid -November and its way to the season can become scrappers.
The Rangers started the day after the Montreal Canadiens with two points for the second Wild-Card place in the eastern conference. Montreal is playing a back-to-back set this weekend against Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators before New York hosts Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.
New York’s Igor Shesterkin stopped 12 shots when Rangers was empty for the second time by New Jersey.
Four seconds in a disturbance penalty on Rangers Sam Carrick, the devils took the lead with 9:04.
Hischier won an offensive zone -Faceoff from Vincent Trocheck and sent the puck to Luke Hughes. Hughes quickly moved it to the right circle for Meier, who blasted a one-hour over Shesterkin before JT Miller could get into position to block the shot.
The devils did again after a blocked shot of the Brender Dillon. After Dillon blocked a shot of Artemi Panarin, the puck tried to the right corner and New York’s Chris Kreider tried to get the puck to a teammate behind the net.
Instead, Dillon Panarin and Miller hit the loose puck and found Bratt just below the blue line in the defensive zone. Bratt made a quick pass for Hischier and was revealed along the left side for the return feed which he easily lifted over Shesterkin with 7:37 left.
After Meier got stuck in a loose puck, Markstrom made two paddle stops at Will Cuylle before Hischier ended shortly after Shesterkin was drawn for the extra attacker.
-Field level media
