Battle of The Hudson: Game 4

GAME 4

New Jersey brought new life to the series after securing a win against New York Monday night. The New York Rangers allowed the Devils to tie the series at 2-2 after returning home for games 3 and 4, where Jersey shined on the ice and secured two much-needed wins. 

Jack Hughes came into the first period with intensity, giving the Devils the first lead of the game (2:50) with an assist from Jonas Siegenthaler. Although the first period consisted of 3 power plays, two on Jersey and one on New York, there was only one goal in the first twenty minutes. For those twenty minutes, the Blueshirts showed little determination on the ice, making it impossible to come back later in the game.

The second period was only more letdown for New York. Once again, the Rangers skated twenty minutes of slow play, burying themselves deep in the Devils' 1-0 game lead. Nonetheless, the Devils played strong on both ends of the ice, still unable to produce any goals as well as New York. With a no-scoring period and disappointment from New York, bringing intensity into the third period was needed for New York to have the slightest possibility of winning but also prove they aren’t throwing away the series.

In the final twenty minutes, the Rangers showed some sort of effort in the rink. Even though the team's drive finally came out, it was too late to secure a win in game 4. The period started off with a goal from Blueshirt Vincent Trocheck (1:42) and assists from Chris Kreider and Patrick Kane. Madison Square Gardens' silence broke when this goal was scored, giving those in blue new excitement in the tied game. Jonas Siegenthaler responded only minutes later, taking the lead for the Devils only minutes later after finding Nico Hischier and Dougie Hamilton. The game's final goal was made after the Rangers pulled Igor Shesterkin from the goal, and Ondrej Palat found the back of the net alongside Jesper Bratt and Erik Haula. 

The Rangers slacking off for forty minutes cost the series to become tied. The Devils will take home ice for the first time since the two difficult losses at the beginning of the round on Thursday, April 27th. It is in both teams' desires to show up and leave everything they've got out on the ice. After Monday night's game, Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said, “We didn’t show up. We didn’t play hard enough. We didn’t compete hard enough.” That being said, New York needs to come across the river Thursday with the same determination and play they brought to the first two games if they want to remain a possible advancer come to the end of the first round.