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The New Jersey Devils, who made the playoffs for the primary time since 2018, will proceed on their journey to the Stanley Cup as they defeated their Hudson River rival, the New York Rangers, 4-0, in Recreation 7 of their first spherical collection.
With their first playoff collection win in 11 years, the Devils will now head all the way down to Carolina to face the Hurricanes, who took care of the New York Islanders in six video games of their first spherical matchup.
It felt like all Devils all through this sport, as they had been always pressuring the Rangers on each ends of the ice. New York’s netminder Igor Shesterkin, although, stored his workforce within the sport after a scoreless first interval, however the Devils lastly broke by way of within the second.
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Michael McLeod #20 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates his second interval aim in opposition to Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers in Recreation Seven of the First Spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Prudential Middle on Could 01, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Photographs)
The primary aim of the sport got here from an sudden participant, as Michael McLeod dangled his manner round Igor Shesterkin, who was in a full cut up after Ondrej Palat deked his manner round two Rangers and despatched a ravishing saucer cross to his teammate’s stick.
It was a short-handed aim for the Devils, although a 4-on-4 tilt simply ticked off the clock. That is McLeod’s first Stanley Cup Playoffs aim, as that is his first playoff collection as effectively.
However the Devils’ momentum, which appeared to remain on their facet of the bench all through the second interval, reached an excellent increased degree when John Marino sped towards web with simply over 5 minutes to play.
KRAKEN HOLD OFF AVALANCHE IN GAME 7 VICTORY, SENDING REIGNING STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS HOME
Marino dangled round a pair Rangers earlier than making an attempt a shot on web that Shesterkin sticked apart. However the puck ended up proper on Marino’s blade once more and he wasted no time throwing it again towards the web, the place Tomas Tatar was ready patiently. He wristed one over Shesterkin to make it a 2-0 sport, and the Prudential Middle went ballistic.
Then, after the Rangers confirmed a bit extra struggle within the third interval, the Devils by no means faltered and got here up with defensive stops that finally led to the dagger aim.
Jack Hughes obtained the puck and sped down ice with two teammates following for a 3-on-1. Hughes selected to saucer cross over to Erik Haula, who one-timed a slap shot previous Shesterkin to make it 3-0 with lower than 5 minutes to play.
Akira Schmid #40 of the New Jersey Devils makes the second interval cease on Patrick Kane in Recreation Seven of the First Spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Prudential Middle on Could 01, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Photographs)
Jesper Bratt tallied his first aim of the collection after that with an empty web aim.
The workforce that has a two-goal-or-more lead in a Recreation 7 at the moment are 128-13 in NHL historical past.
The Rangers had been shut out in Recreation 5 at The Rock by 22-year-old Akira Schmid, and he did the identical factor when it mattered most for New Jersey right here in Recreation 7.
Earlier than the sport started, it was fascinating to see what head coach Lindy Ruff was going to do after Schmid was pulled in Recreation 6 for Vitek Vanecek after permitting 5 objectives. Vanecek struggled within the first two video games of this collection, which led to Schmid’s arrival in web.
It turned out to be the fitting determination.
Schmid made 31 saves, a few of which the Rangers made exhausting on him. Nonetheless, his glove hand was additional sharp because it was used to grab would-be objectives to the pleasure of the Devils followers within the stands and at residence watching.
Tomas Tatar #90 of the New Jersey Devils (2nd from proper) celebrates his second interval aim in opposition to the New York Rangers in Recreation Seven of the First Spherical of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Prudential Middle on Could 01, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Photographs)
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Recreation 1 puck drop will come on Wednesday evening.
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