{"id":26815,"date":"2023-04-15T01:18:59","date_gmt":"2023-04-15T01:18:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/04\/15\/how-new-york-rangers-can-beat-new-jersey-devils\/"},"modified":"2023-04-15T01:18:59","modified_gmt":"2023-04-15T01:18:59","slug":"how-new-york-rangers-can-beat-new-jersey-devils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/04\/15\/how-new-york-rangers-can-beat-new-jersey-devils\/","title":{"rendered":"How New York Rangers can beat New Jersey Devils"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n

The Battle of the Hudson is coming.<\/p>\n

With the regular season behind them, the New York Rangers<\/a>
\nand New Jersey Devils are locked into a first-round playoff matchup and a meeting
\nfor the first time in the postseason since 2012. The teams each finished in the top 10 in the
\nleague-wide standings and are headed for a dynamic clash. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

Despite being the lower seed of the two, the Rangers are
\nmore than capable of upsetting their cross-river rivals. Here are three factors
\nintegral to the Rangers\u2019 success in this matchup, which begins Tuesday at New Jersey.<\/p>\n

\nI-gor!\u00a0<\/strong>I-gor!\u00a0<\/strong>I-gor!<\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\n

In net for New York is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner,
\nIgor Shesterkin, the great equalizer. When the Rangers have defensive
\nbreakdowns or give up odd-man rushes, Shesterkin is there to erase them.<\/p>\n

After a historic 2021-22 season, the 27-year-old stumbled a bit by his
\nstandards earlier this season but has played well recently, finishing the season
\nwith a 2.48 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage. Even with his
\nstruggles against Pittsburgh in last year\u2019s postseason, Shesterkin has proven he has a short memory and can handle the pressure of the postseason in New
\nYork.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

Get production from third line<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Third lines have been crucial to past Stanley Cup winners \u2013 most
\nrecently the Tampa Bay Lightning \u2013 and the Rangers have one that can be a
\nmatchup problem: 2017 No. 21 overall pick Filip Chytil, 2019 No. 2 overall
\npick Kaapo Kakko and 2020 No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafreni\u00e8re.\u00a0<\/p>\n

New
\nYork\u2019s top prospects have graduated from the \u201cKid Line\u201d moniker and developed palpable
\nchemistry, with each player setting career highs in multiple offensive
\ncategories. With all the talent on the roster, this trio
\nis relegated to the third line. But that will give them advantageous matchups, and if they can provide secondary and tertiary scoring, the Rangers will
\nthrive.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

Play lights-out on road<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Devils will start with home-ice advantage, but that may not be easy to hold onto.<\/p>\n

The Rangers had the seventh-best road
\nrecord this season, picking up 24 of their 47 wins and only losing nine times
\nin regulation. There is also the benefit of proximity. Rangers fans travel
\nwell, especially when the away arena (Prudential Center) is a short train ride away. There
\nare sure to be plenty of red, white and blue jerseys in the crowd in Newark.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Devils are also a great road team, so the Rangers need to defend their
\nhome ice, but with the first two games on the road, New York could jump to
\nan early lead.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n