The Rangers are looking for revenge against the Devils after being beaten earlier this season

The Rangers are looking for revenge against the Devils after being beaten earlier this season

Peter Laviolette wasn’t thrilled with any of the Rangers’ results against the Devils last month.

There were some positives from the first game, he said – a 5-1 setback on December 2nd. But three weeks later, another listless defeat quickly turned into an embarrassment.

The afternoon began with the Blueshirts making Chris Kreider, their longest-tenured player, a healthy scratch.


Will Borgen gives Paul Cotter a hard check during the Rangers' 5-0 loss to the Devils on December 23, 2024.
Will Borgen gives Paul Cotter a hard check during the Rangers’ 5-0 loss to the Devils on December 23, 2024. Bill Kostroun

Then the Devils trolled them on their Jumbotron with a clip of cheering Rangers fans in 2019, when New Jersey selected Jack Hughes No. 1 overall and Kaapo Kakko, recently traded to the Kraken, could take the next pick.

And after the 5-0 defeat, the Rangers were the subject of a social media dig as the Devils’ team account posted a clip on fire.

At this point, their season was spiraling out of control. The dumpster fire was not a far-fetched description. Not much has changed since then, as a streak of two wins in three games was offset by the Blueshirts’ 5-4 overtime loss on Tuesday after they blew a 3-0 lead.

But considering how their last game against the Devils went, the Rangers’ final game with their Metropolitan Division rival on Thursday at the Garden offers a chance for a reaction and a statement.

“We didn’t like the way we played last time,” defender Ryan Lindgren said, “so yeah, we have to be a lot better.”

The showdown would be a benchmark regardless of the current state of the Rangers.


Sam Carrick (right) fights with Brenden Dillon during the Rangers' upset loss to the Devils on December 23, 2024.
Sam Carrick (right) fights with Brenden Dillon during the Rangers’ upset loss to the Devils on December 23, 2024. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

The Devils sit second in the metro – three points behind the division-leading Capitals entering Wednesday night’s games – and have the second-best power play in the league.

Hughes and Jesper Bratt are tied for 11th in the NHL with 48 points as of Wednesday night.

Goaltender Jacob Markstrom has also scored the third-fewest goals in the league in his first 30 appearances this year.



In the 2022-23 season, their rivalry extended into the postseason as the Devils eliminated the Rangers in the first round.

Last year, the Blueshirts won all four meetings, while New Jersey fell far short of its lofty expectations and missed the playoffs.

The two teams will meet again in April, with the Rangers needing a win in one of the remaining two meetings to avoid losing in the season series.

But a win at the Garden on Thursday would help the Rangers overcome the pre-holiday break debacle – and the accompanying disaster of huge tweets and social media trolling.

“Definitely a chance to try to right some mistakes,” said Peter Laviolette, referring to the two losses last month.


Center Filip Chytil, who came through Tuesday’s loss with an upper-body injury, did not practice and was still being evaluated, according to Laviolette.

Chris Kreider, who was on injured reserve retroactive to Sunday because of an upper-body injury, skated alone.

And star goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin – also on IR but eligible to play on Thursday – participated fully in practice.

“I think every time you see a player out there and they’re involved in practice, it gets closer to you, like someone running alone or wearing a different colored jersey or not getting the reps they should,” Laviolette asked whether Shesterkin was about to return.


Arthur Kaliyev, who claimed waivers on Monday, skated alongside Jonny Brodzinski on the Rangers’ third line and Brett Berard, while also making time for the second power play unit.

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