NEWARK, N.J. — All season long, the Rangers were waiting for this moment. After getting all the way to the Eastern Conference final last season, before running out of gas and eventually bowing out to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Blueshirts hungered to get back to the playoffs and try to do it again.
At times, it seemed they slogged their way through the regular season, but when they finally got to play their first playoff game in 2023, against the rival Devils Tuesday at Prudential Center, the Rangers were clearly ready.
Goals by Vladimir Tarasenko, Chris Kreider (two, both on the power play) and Ryan Lindgren, plus a more-than-solid performance in goal by Igor Shesterkin, led the Rangers to a 5-1 victory. It gave them a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven, first-round series. Game 2 is Thursday in Newark.
