NEW YORK — The Rangers have made hay this season taking points off the weaker teams in the league. But this was different, as rivalry games always are.
"They're a good team,’’ Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said of the across-the-Hudson River rivals, the Devils. "They play really well. They’re young, talented, they create a lot of offensive chances. They make some mistakes, too, and they give up some chances. But they're an exciting team. They play hard. They play well. … They’ve got lots of young skill and they're really taken advantage of it and they're a challenge. If you give them lots of opportunities offensively, they'll take advantage of that.’’
Well, the Rangers did give the Devils lots of opportunities offensively, but Igor Shesterkin was there to handle all of them. The odds-on favorite to win the Vezina Trophy for being the best goalie in the NHL was on his game again, making 32 saves to help the Rangers to a 3-1 victory, their eighth straight win in the Battle of the Hudson. The victory was the 27th of the season for Shesterkin, who improved to 27-6-3.
