In Newark, the New York Rangers scored three goals in the back half of the third period on Saturday night to defeat the New Jersey Devils, 5-3.
The outburst tied the game, 3-3, on Artemi Panarin’s second goal of the game at 11: 04 of the third.
“He’s been he’s been playing so hard, and so good,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “That line again tonight (Panarin, Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere) was a threat when they were on the ice, but [Panarin’s] been great.”
Jimmy Vesey followed up with his double in the win with under four minutes left on the game clock for a 4-3 lead to the Rangers.
Blake Wheeler scored his third of the season, into an empty net, for the 5-3 final with less than two minutes to go in the game.
The win was arguably the first big test of the Peter Laviolette inspired Rangers, facing off with the Devils who are a thorn under the Rangers saddle.
Igor Shesterkin made 30 saves in the win.
The Rangers improved to 12-2-1 off their 10th win in the last 11 games, 10-0-1.
Panarin set a franchise record for points in 15 straight games to open the season. He bested Rod Golbert’s mark in the 1972-73 season by one game.
“It’s been pretty ridiculous,” Vesey said of Panarin. “I think I was impressed with him last year, my first time playing with him. But this year he’s kind of found a new gear and for the franchise to be around this long and for him to break a record like that is pretty special.
“He’s just been a special player for us; a difference-maker.”
Panarin scored in the first to set the mark and give the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 8:37.
“I just see the puck and it’s probably 26 years playing) in a hockey rink … so I know exactly where the net is (on the shot),” Panarin said. “I just shot to that (top short) side. [Trocheck] did an unbelievable battle for me and I just rip the puck into the net.”
The Devils’ Jack Hughes tied it 1-1 midway through the first, 1-1.
Vesey hit for his first of the game at 14:11 of opening stanza.
“I think top-to-bottom, we have a solid team and believe in ourselves,” Vesey said. “Obviously, our back end and goaltending has been awesome, so I think we’re in any game no matter what happens and, in the third period, we’ve just seemed to have more juice than the other team.”
A power play goal from Ondrej Palat with 48 seconds left in the frame tied the game, 2-2, headed to the middle frame.
New Jersey dropped to 8-7-1.
After a scoreless second period, the Devils took a 3-2 lead on Hughes’ second goal of the the game at 1:17.
“The game was right there for us,” New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. “We’ve been in these games where after 20 or 40, we haven’t been able to finish. Our last game we did (a 5-2 win at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday). I think where we capitalized last game were the opportunities to put the game away. We didn’t do it tonight.”
The Rangers defense and Shesterkin shut down New Jersey the rest of the way and opened up their offense for the win.
“Every minute that went by, he looked better and better,” Laviolette said. “That’s expected since he was out for a little bit. We needed him and I thought he really stepped up.”
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Vitek Vanecek made 30 saves in the loss.
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