The New Jersey Devils hosted the New York Rangers on Thursday night at Prudential Center in the first meeting between the teams this season. For a Hudson River rivalry game, that usually means more energy than a typical early-season matchup, and this one arrived with both teams carrying plenty of attention into Newark, N.J.
The Rangers came in as one of the best teams in the NHL in the early going, while the Devils were sorting through lineup changes of their own. The timing made the game an important early test for New Jersey, especially with the building expected to be loud and the emotion naturally elevated whenever the Rangers visit.
Evangelista out again, Brown returns to the ice
The Devils were without Luke Evangelista for a second game in a row after he missed Thursday morning's skate because of illness. Sheldon Keefe said, "He hasn't been able to shake this fever, so it's dragging on here," and added, "We'll have to keep going without him."
There was at least one positive development for New Jersey on the injury front. Connor Brown skated with teammates for the first time this season after injury, giving the Devils another player trending back toward availability.
Keefe sees a major challenge from the Rangers
Keefe said the Rangers' strong start has been built on their defensive play. "Well, the biggest reason why they're rolling is how they've been checking," he said. "They've been a very strong defensive team, as good as any in the league, really, in terms of how they've checked and make it real hard to get to their goaltender and generate offense."
That style, Keefe added, has been a problem for the Devils early in the season. "And we haven't done well against these types of teams here in terms of that style of play in the early going of the season, so it's a great challenge for us," he said.
Jack Hughes also welcomed the test. "Yeah, they're playing pretty well, so going to be a good match for our group tonight, and we're excited," he said.
Johnathan Kovacevic pointed to the atmosphere around the rivalry as part of what makes the game feel bigger. "They're off to obviously a great start, and anytime the Rangers come here, the building's jumping, it's alive, and it's a fun game," he said. "So, we know we're in for a big challenge, and there's going to be a lot of emotion in the building tonight, and it's going to be a lot of fun."
Lineup decisions reflect what the Devils want to see
New Jersey also made a lineup decision with Declan Chisholm in and Brenden Dillon scratched. Keefe said the move was less about what Chisholm has already done and more about what the Devils believe he can provide going forward.
"I think it's less about what (Chisolm’s) done, quite honestly, and it's what we think he can do," Keefe said. He added that the Devils brought him in with the idea that he could play every day and grow more comfortable in the role.
Keefe highlighted Chisholm's ability to move the puck up ice as part of the reason for the opportunity. "The fact that he can skate the puck out in transition, get us out of trouble on our own end and through the neutral zone, just have a little bit better puck movements coming throughout our D core," he said. "We think he can help us in that regard, and I think he has."
With the first meeting of the season on the schedule and both teams bringing something different to the table, the Devils and Rangers were set for exactly the kind of game that usually defines this rivalry.
