New York Rangers in total control for Game 1 win vs. New Jersey Devils

In truth, the outcome was never in doubt.

While much of Jersey’s young core was experiencing its first postseason game, the Blueshirts had the look of a team that had been here before. They took advantage of their scoring opportunities, tightened their defense and made the necessary sacrifices to win. And, perhaps most important, they heeded head coach Gerard Gallant’s calls to avoid costly mistakes that would fuel the transition game of the NHL’s No. 1 rush team.

The Devils may have won three out of four regular-season meetings, but the playoffs are a different animal.

Hit the ground running

Rangers fans may have feared for the worst when Vincent Trocheck was called for tripping just 1:15 into the game, but the players showed no panic.

They killed the penalty without allowing a shot on goal, then pounced at the 4:58 mark with a tone-setting goal from one of their prized trade-deadline additions.

Vladimir Tarasenko was brought over from the St. Louis Blues for his high-end scoring ability and his Stanley Cup-winning experience.

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The move paid off early, with the 31-year-old veteran receiving a pass from K’Andre Miller in the slot and whipping it past Jersey goalie Vítek Vaněček to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

Less than five minutes later, Chris Kreider doubled that margin by breaking the franchise record for postseason goals.

The longest-tenured Ranger scored it in typical Kreider fashion − by camping out around the net and using his superb tipping skills to redirect a pass from Adam Fox. That gave him 35 playoff goals for his career to pass the late Rod Gilbert for the all-time lead.

It also put the Blueshirts ahead, 2-0, before 10 minutes had elapsed in the game.

Igor Shesterkin has big game

Jersey licked its wounds at intermission and opened the second period by registering eight of the first 10 shots on goal. Shesterkin stopped each one of them, then made perhaps his biggest save of the night later in the period.

With the Rangers leading 2-0, Devils star center Jack Hughes slipped past defenseman Niko Mikkola for an eye-popping chance right in front of the net. But Shesterkin seemed to have it all the way, quickly closing up his legs to smother the shot right off Hughes’ stick.

From there, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner was on his way. He withstood another push from New Jersey in the third and finished with 27 saves for the win. He nearly earned his first postseason shutout, but Hughes converted a penalty shot with 2:46 remaining to end his bid.

The momentum Shesterkin finished the regular season with carried over just the way the Rangers hoped it would. He went 13-2-1 with a .937 save percentage in his final 16 starts, and now he’s opened the playoffs with a stellar outing.

A frustrating night for Jack Hughes

Getting robbed by Shesterkin wasn’t the only source of frustration for Hughes.

The No. 1 overall pick from the 2020 NHL Draft went off for 99 points during the regular season and entered as arguably the most-feared offensive player on either team. But questions about how the 21-year-old’s vast skill will translate when his space to maneuver dries up remain.

“You always watch the playoffs and you know how it intensifies and it ramps up,” Hughes said prior to the game. “Even watching the games (Monday) night, they’re more physical than the regular season. But it’s part of the game and we’ll adjust to that, as well.”

The adjustment will clearly require more than one game.

The Rangers did an admirable job of making the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder uncomfortable and forcing him into turnovers. He was charged with five giveaways, and that may have been a conservative number.

The Blueshirts clogged passing lanes with active sticks, knocked him to ice with a few hard body checks and blocked a total of 23 shots. It was the type of defensive effort that Gallant should be proud of.

And on the other end of the ice, they took advantage of the limited looks they had. The Rangers only finished with 23 shots, but converted on five of them.

Ryan Lindgren scored from a tough angle near the goal line to make it 3-0 at the 16:57 mark in the second period, followed by Kreider’s second power-play goal of the night to seal the win in the third. Filip Chytil added an empty-netter and Fox led the team with three assists.