The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (38-33-2) at the New York Rangers (30-35-9)
The Time: 7:00 PM EDT
The Broadcast:
TV — MSGSN, MSG2; Radio — Devils Hockey NetworkFinal Rangers Matchup
Thanks to the NHL schedule being designed in the way it is, the Devils only get to play the New York Rangers three times this season, with tonight being the final matchup. The Devils won the previous two games 6-3, outshooting the Rangers 74 to 38 across those 120 minutes. Both nights, the Rangers sent Jonathan Quick out to be their sacrificial
lamb, as he withstood 11 of the 12 goals against without being pulled either night (the sixth goal in the first game was an empty netter). I cannot imagine that the Rangers would do that to Quick again, as I would not have blamed him for contemplating retirement during either of those games. The Rangers had no answer for the Devils’ attack.
Will that change tonight? Despite some brutal losses effectively taking the Devils out of the playoff race, the Devils have been a very strong offensive team in the month of March. In total, they are 9-4-0 with 53 goals, outshooting opponents 424-335. If you wanted to find the previous 53 goals the Devils scored before March, you would have to look at a span of 27 games from December 17 to February 28, in which the team played 27 games and went 11-15-1. The Devils have flipped their scoring woes entirely this month.
The Iron Man
Today will mark Dawson Mercer’s 402nd consecutive game played, which will have him pass Travis Zajac as the all-time iron man streak holder for the New Jersey Devils. This season has again been a disappointing one, offensively, for Dawson Mercer, but there are some things that have been better about his game lately. He has three points in the team’s last four games, though I would like to see him start putting the puck in the back of the net again. After starting the season with eight goals and seven assists in the team’s first 14 games, Mercer has only added seven more goals and 14 assists in the 59 games since. Scoring has only come in clusters for Mercer, with long stretches of zeroes upon zeroes filling in the space between.
Mercer is also someone who seems to have benefitted less from the change in the Devils’ offensive system over the last month. He only has six points in March despite playing on a line with Nico Hischier and Timo Meier, and both players have had some good, productive games this month. Timo, despite initially looking like he was going to stay dry in March, now has six goals and 2 assists this month. Nico Hischier, meanwhile, has thrived in the more aggressive Devils system with six goals and nine assists this month, including a four-point game and a couple two-goal games that nearly turned to hat tricks. If Mercer was playing like he did in October, this line would be absolutely rolling.
Watch Out for Jack
The New Jersey Devils have been blessed by outstanding play from Jack Hughes over the last few weeks, and it really has been something to behold. Hischier is a quiet workhorse, but Jack brings flair like nobody else in the Eastern Conference. Skating with more speed than he’s shown since the 2022-23 season, picking spots and creating plays faster than opposing defenses can blink, Jack has looked like he’s grown to a new level. Now up to 63 points in 52 games this season with 24 points in March, Jack has been on fire against the Rangers this season. With four goals and three assists in two games against them, look out for another big game from him tonight.
Your Thoughts
What do you think of tonight’s game? Will you be watching our last game against the Rangers this season? Who do you think will lead the way for the team tonight? Will it be 3-0 on the season series? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.
