Rangers vs. Devils: Tank Time Again
The Rangers got outshot 17-2 in the first period, Perreault still isn't on the top power play unit, and the tank is back.
- We are so back, baby. So back. It's not just a 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, which at times had a scoreline that looked competitive. It's being outshot 39-18 (including 17-2 in the first period), going 0-for-2 on the "Gabe Perreault can't be on PP1 for some reason" power play, while going 2-for-4 on penalty kills, and just general New York Rangers activities in general.
- This was from before the Devils' game, but it's worth dropping here anyway:
If you needed further reinforcement that the little 4-game win streak was a mirage ... https://t.co/pMJjcQqn7h
— Joe Fortunato (@JoeFortunatoBSB) March 18, 2026
- The good news? Alexis Lafrenière had a primary assist on the Vladislav Gavrikov goal and Perreault had the primary assist on the Mika Zibanejad goal. This game fell in the golden zone of the Rangers losing, but also getting good contributions from the kids that we need to see more from. So it checked both boxes.
- On the Perreault assist, it literally came from his aggressive forecheck, hounding Dougie Hamilton until he was able to loosen the puck enough to throw it to the boards where Zibanejad was streaking. We talk about him playing like a man, and that's one of those moments. It's also exactly what Sullivan wants from the tip of his forechecking spear.
- Perreault got 19 minutes of ice time exactly. Lafreniere got 19:33. Good to see.
