Evan Rodrigues ignited the offensive explosion by scoring with 29.6 seconds remaining in the opening period. The Devils carried that momentum into the second, striking repeatedly as New York struggled to contain the pressure and protect its goaltender.
The loss was particularly difficult for Rangers rookie netminder Dylan Garand, who had impressed in his first two NHL starts, earning victories after taking over following Igor Shesterkin’s season-ending injury. Thursday’s performance was a sharp departure from those early appearances, as defensive miscues and a costly turnover helped New Jersey take control.
New York captain J.T. Miller was involved in a pivotal mistake late in the first period when he missed a pass, allowing Rodrigues to gain possession in a dangerous scoring position. The Devils capitalized, and the goal opened the floodgates.
New Jersey continued its assault just 18 seconds after the intermission. Luke Hughes took advantage of a giveaway by Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to extend the lead, putting additional pressure on a New York team that had been unable to slow the Devils’ attack.
The defensive breakdowns continued. Garand mishandled the puck, creating an opportunity for Devils captain Nico Hischier to finish with an easy tap-in. With New Jersey building momentum, Rangers coach Mike Sullivan called a timeout in an attempt to settle his team and halt the scoring run.
The stoppage provided little relief.
Arseny Gritsyuk collected a rebound and buried it to cap New Jersey’s four-goal surge. Garand’s night ended after he surrendered four goals on 13 shots, forcing Spencer Martin to take over between the pipes.
Martin also found himself under pressure as the Devils continued to attack. Hughes scored again to record the first multigoal game of his NHL career, while Stefan Noesen and Cody Glass added goals of their own to complete New Jersey’s seven-goal performance.
Despite the lopsided score, New Jersey’s defense and goaltending also played an important role in the victory. Nico Daws turned aside 18 shots and kept the Rangers off the scoreboard until the third period, when Pavel Dorofeyev redirected a power-play opportunity into the net.
The Devils received contributions throughout their lineup. Timo Meier, Brett Pesce, Amadeus Lombardi, Dawson Mercer and Dougie Hamilton each recorded two assists, helping fuel an offensive effort that overwhelmed New York.
The victory gave New Jersey its second consecutive win, while the Rangers suffered just their third loss in nine games. For the Devils, the result offered an emphatic statement in front of a full house at the Rock. For the Rangers, the night exposed defensive lapses that proved too costly against a rival ready to capitalize on every opportunity.
New Jersey will look to carry its momentum into Saturday’s road matchup against Washington. New York, meanwhile, heads to Columbus seeking a response after a difficult night across the river.
Upcoming games
New York Rangers: Visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.
New Jersey Devils: Visit the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
