This is the Patrick Kane the Rangers were expecting when they brought him to Broadway seven weeks ago.
This is the Hall of Fame-bound superstar they brought on board to help end their Stanley Cup drought that dates back to 1994, which ended a 54-year drought before that.
Kane was at his absolute best as a Blueshirt on Thursday night, scoring a goal and assisting on two others in the Rangers’ 5-1 rout of the Devils in Game 2 of their playoff series at Prudential Center.
“He was outstanding tonight — this was his best for sure,’’ Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “He felt really good and he had a lot of jump. Getting that goal was great set of hands on him. He was definitely excited. He was excellent.’’
Kane’s first point came on an assist to Chris Kreider when he sent a wrister into the crowded mixer in front of the New Jersey net and Kreider did what he does as well as anyone in the NHL with the tip-in, the first of his two goals in the game.
Kane’s second assist was a marvelous pass to Kreider, who was camped out to the left of Devils goalie Vitek Vanecek.
The piece de resistance of the night — and his 21-game stay with the Rangers to date — came 6:34 into the third period, when he made a play in the defensive zone on Devils wing Jesper Bratt and then outhustled everyone to the puck in the offensive zone, making a majestic move on Vanecek and flicking a backhander over the goalie’s left shoulder for his first goal of the postseason.
“I just kind of picked the pocket of Bratt there and pushed the puck ahead, had a step on their D-man and Kreider and I were going on somewhat of a 2-on-0, and I was looking to pass to him, but they kind of took him away so I kind of took it to the net,’’ Kane said, describing his goal. “It was nice to see it go in.’’
The entire night was vintage Kane, and his teammates positively delighted in it.
“I was on the bench watching and it was fun to watch,’’ center Vincent Trocheck said. “His hands might be the best ever. When he gets in tight like that, he can make plays. That goal was awesome.’’
Said Rangers captain Jacob Trouba: “He can do some pretty special stuff out there. Obviously, that was a pretty impressive goal. There were a whole bunch of us smiling watching that.’’
The three-point night was further evidence that Kane is becoming more able in his Rangers uniform, becoming more comfortable with his linemates and the team’s system.
“It’s hard coming to a new team,’’ Trouba said. “It’s not easy moving to New York. It’s a big adjustment for people. I think he’s fit in great in the room. He’s a tremendous teammate, he takes the time to talk to everyone. I don’t think you’ll find a guy in this room that’ll say a bad word about him and the player he’s been and the teammate he’s been.
“I can only say good things about him, the way he is in the room, the time he spends with our young players, that’s how he is, that’s who he is. There’s a reason he’s the player he is and has had the career he’s had to this point.’’
Defenseman Ryan Lindgren called Kane’s night “unbelievable.”
Kane called his first playoff goal as a Ranger “special.’’
“It was a tough decision leaving Chicago, but these are the moments you come to New York for — a situation like this,’’ Kane said. “You’re on a good team, where there’s going to be moments in the playoffs when you’re called on to step up and produce, so it a nice to do that tonight.’’