NEWARK, N.J. — Maybe it was a letdown after their big day on Monday, when the Rangers brought in three new players at the NHL trade deadline, but the Blueshirts’ trip to New Jersey on Tuesday ended up with goalie Igor Shesterkin getting pulled from the net for the second time in his last five starts, and the Rangers losing to the Devils, 7-4 at Prudential Center.
Jack Hughes had two goals and the Devils outscored the Rangers 5-0 in the second period to seize control of the game. Down 5-2 to start the third period, the Rangers got a goal by Ryan Strome to get back in it momentarily, before Hughes scored twice to make it 7-3. Chris Kreider’s power-play goal, his 42nd, accounted for the final score.
The loss, coupled with Pittsburgh’s win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, dropped the Rangers (40-19-5) into third place in the Metropolitan Division.
