NEWARK, N.J. — For one game, at least, in the Eastern Conference finals, the New Jersey Devils found a way to beat Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers.
After losing to the Rangers in Game 1, the Devils found a solution in Game 2. They forechecked, moved the puck, didn’t give the New York defense time to set up, shot quickly and got traffic in front of the Rangers’ goaltender.
It wasn’t anything novel. It was Hockey 101, and a better effort than in the opener of the best-of-seven series.
Now it’s the Rangers’ turn to respond as the series shifts to New Jersey for Game 3 at the Prudential Center today.
“We know the Rangers are going to push,” Devils coach Peter DeBoer said. “We know they’re going to come out and play a great hockey game (today). It’s on us to do the same thing. So I expect it to be the best game of the series from both ends.”
Both teams returned to the ice Friday and continued to tweak their games.
“I think both teams,” DeBoer said, “are going to take their game to another level.”
At the least, the Devils need to prevent the Rangers from blocking shots again. New York blocked 26 in its 3-0 win in Game 1, but New Jersey did a much better job in getting rubber at Lundqvist in evening the series Wednesday.
“They do a great job of blocking shots, but the reality of it is that we have to get two or three guys in front and then somehow get the puck through,” Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador said. “They do it more than anyone. We have to maintain some sort of presence in front of the net. It doesn’t have to be a great shot, but it has to get there.”
