It’s Christmas Time, so you know what that means. It’s time to find out who gets coal in their stockings and who gets a nice gift. While we could go around the entire National Hockey League, we’re going to narrow our scope to the two archrivals who squared off Monday afternoon before entering The League’s holiday break. Of course, we’re talking about the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers.
In a rare Monday matinee, the Devils hosted the Rangers at Prudential Center and the result was a 5-0 victory for New Jersey. Now, instead of analyzing the game action normally, let’s do so by seeing which players should be excited to open their Christmas stockings and who will be receiving coal from Santa.
MATT REMPE: COAL
New York’s not-so-gentle-giant missed the contest as he was suspended for eight games for his dangerous hit on Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen last week. This is Rempe’s second career suspension in less than 25 games. Per Newsday’s Colin Stephenson, Rangers’ Head Coach Peter Laviolette told the media, “I think you constantly learn, especially him in the way he plays the game. We’ll keep working with him as well. He’s an important part of our team, and he brings a lot to the table. It’s tough. It’s… a big number for a suspension.”
CHRIS KREIDER: COAL
The longest-tenured Ranger sat out the game as a healthy scratch. While Kreider dealt with a back issue a few weeks ago, this scratch is not believed to be related to that. Head Coach Peter Laviolette attempted to shake things up and chose to sit Kreider. While you could argue that Mika Zibanejad and others deserved the benching more, it’s a loud message and continued confirmation that things are not right on Broadway.
JACK HUGHES: GIFT
New Jersey’s superstar added a gift to his stocking and coal to New York’s all-in-one play as he sniped the puck past Jonathan Quick with a snapshot from the left circle 4:29 into the game. It was Hughes’ 14th career goal against the Rangers in just 22 games against the Blueshirts. Hughes also extended his points streak against New York to 11 straight games.
In the second period, he added his second goal of the game, a power-play tally, off a feed from brother Luke Hughes. It was his 15th career goal against the Blueshirts. The goal also gave the older Hughes brother 19 points in his last 12 games.
Dawson Mercer’s power-play tally 12:35 into the third period gave the Devils a 5-0 lead and it also capped off Jack Hughes’ performance as Hughes provided the primary assist on the play, raising his totals to 20 points in his last 12 games.
“Jack’s a gamer,” Devils Head Coach Sheldon Keefe explained. “He’s a competitor. What I’m learning, he really loves these moments. He loves these games. He wants to make a difference. So yeah, it’s a huge goal for him today. The first one, in particular, to get us going. There’s a lot more going on on that goal and I think a lot of us maybe can’t appreciate it, just in terms of how he releases that puck and how he fools the goalie a little bit. There’s an art to that. Few players have the ability to score from that spot. That was good to see.”
JESPER BRATT: GIFT
The second part of New Jersey’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Duo threw a big hit on Urho Vaakanainen in the first period that surprised quite a few people. But it shows off an added dimension to Bratt’s game, which is a welcome addition. He also assisted on Hughes’ first-period goal, giving him 30 helpers in just 37 games, making him the sixth-fastest Devil to reach that mark in a season. He later added an assist on Hughes’ second goal of the game.
PAUL COTTER/VINCENT TROCHECK/BRENDEN DILLON/SAM CARRICK: COAL AND GIFT
These four players combined to treat the fans to two spirited first-period fights. Cotter versus Trocheck ended with Cotter dropping Trocheck, while Dillon and Carrick’s bout towards the end of the period ended in a draw. Depending on how you want to look at these fights will determine whether these players get coal or a gift in their stockings.
TIMO MEIER: GIFT
The Devils’ special teams have been strong for much of the season, even though their power-play has struggled in December. With 4:41 gone by in the second period and New Jersey’s power-play about to expire, Timo Meier one-timed a no-look pass from Dawson Mercer past Jonathan Quick to increase the home team’s lead to 2-0. This was Meier’s third straight game with a goal. Meier later added an assist on Stefan Noesen’s third-period goal to give him a multi-point game.
DEVILS’ SPECIAL TEAMS: GIFT
New Jersey’s special teams were a huge reason for their success in this game. They went four-for-four on the penalty-kill and three-for-four on the power-play, making them an almost perfect, seven-for-eight on the day.
“I think our PK did a good job,” Jack Hughes explained. “Marky (Jacob Markstrom) was our best penalty killer, obviously. Then, the power-play made some plays too. It’s a great win for our group.”
“Just one of those nights where pucks are probably falling in the right spot for us,” Jack Hughes continued. “And I don’t want to get too greedy. It’s only been like 10 games or so on The PK (for me). But we’re going good right now and I’m just watching and learning. Every team we play has really good players, so you gotta be really aware and I think I’ve been engaged in that and have people helping me and just adding another element to my game.”
RANGERS SPECIAL TEAMS: COAL
The Blueshirts’ power-play had been a strength of the team the past few years. But now, they’ve plummeted to 19th in The League and continue to free-fall down the rankings. According to The Athletic’s Peter Baugh, since December 6th, the Rangers’ power-play is in a 2-for-26 drought. That, on top of a penalty-kill that surrendered multiple power-play goals to the opposition for the third time this season and the second time to the Devils, is one of the many reasons New York’s season is heading in the wrong direction.
NEW JERSEY’S SHOTS ALLOWED STREAK: GIFT
For the seventh consecutive game, the Devils held their opposition to under 20 shots on goal. That’s an NHL record. Their commitment to team defense the last couple of weeks has been a revelation and has evoked memories of how New Jersey used to play in the mid-90s.
“Our knock was always, the defensive side of the puck and giving goals up,” Jack Hughes said. “We could always score and everyone knew that we had the talent and that we’ve got some high-end players. I think we’ve really bought in as a group, just defending and trying to limit the opponent’s scoring chances. For the most part, we know we’re gonna get our goals. Tonight’s another great example of, when you got a great goaltender in net and you don’t give up too many scoring chances, you’re most likely gonna win the game.”
“I wasn’t aware it’s a record,” Devils Head Coach Sheldon Keefe added on. “But, yeah, absolute buy-in. It’s second efforts, third efforts, staying on the puck, denying their ability to even get the free and easy shots. Quite honestly, I think they had a lot of perimeter shots tonight too. Whether it’s having the puck and managing it well or closing space when we don’t have it, just a really tremendous buy-in and commitment from our guys. Couldn’t ask for more in that regard.”
JONATHAN QUICK: GIFT
Okay, so giving up three goals is not the best game a goalie can have, but aside from the first one, which he’d presumably want back, the others were by no means his fault. Quick was under siege and his teammates essentially hung him out to hang and dry. He made some truly terrific saves, especially while the Rangers were on the power-play and deserved better than what his teammates put him through.
JACOB MARKSTROM: GIFT
The Devils’ netminder pitched his second consecutive shutout, his third of the season and did so again by only stopping 12 shots on goals. It wasn’t that long ago that Devils’ GM Tom Fitzgerald was telling the media that Markstrom needs to be better. Well, he’s certainly responded and two straight shutouts are about as perfect as you can get as a goalie.
“Good game overall,” Jacob Markstrom explained. “This whole home stretch, we’ve been playing really good and the fans have been awesome. So it was nice to finish it off before Christmas here like this.”
In other news, please pardon this shameless plug, but Sportsology’s Founder, Russ Cohen and myself (Matthew Blittner) have released a brand new hockey book entitled, “Game Winners: The Greatest Game-Winning Goals In Hockey History.” The tome analyzes what we feel are the 50 greatest game-winning goals spread across The NHL’s history, as well as a handful from The Olympics. We mixed things up to include goals from the post-season, regular season, overtime, shootout and regulation. There’s even some emphasis on outdoor games.
All in all, we highly suggest you check it out on Amazon. Here’s the link: https://a.co/d/dj0swvo
In keeping with the book theme, notated hockey writer, Allan Kreda (currently with the Associated Press) is set to release his new book with Ken Morrow in February, on the anniversary of The 1980 Miracle On Ice Team’s incredible triumph. You can pre-order the book here: https://a.co/d/cQ6YLy0
For our last bit of news today, it was a bittersweet moment for hockey fans during the Devils-Rangers game. Legendary Rangers’ Television Play-By-Play broadcaster, Sam Rosen called what is almost assuredly his final game in Newark as part of this heated rivalry.
Rosen is set to retire upon the conclusion of the Blueshirts’ season, which is his 40th on the mic. The Seventh Avenue Skaters visit The Garden Staters one more time this season, at the beginning of April, but that is an ESPN exclusive broadcast. So, unless these teams meet in the first round of the playoffs or ESPN decides to drop the game in April, this was Rosen’s final trip to Newark as The Voice of The Rangers.
Okay, that’s all for this Blittner’s Blue Line. Have a Happy and Healthy Holidays!
photo by Sportsology.
