The New York Rangers could rebrand to the New York Roughhousers after Thursday night.
That would be appropriate after the way the Blueshirts pushed and shoved the Devils around at the Prudential Center in a feisty 5-1 win, which featured two fights and a playoff-like intensity they didn’t even have during the real first-round series between the two clubs 10 months ago.
This one got nasty quick. There was blood drawn. The hatred was palpable.
And the Rangers played their part in a headstrong, smart way that left the Devils unable to see past the red. It was the sort of performance that was fitting for a team riding a nine-game win streak.
Goalie Igor Shesterkin was perfect. He was dominant in this one, displaying the sort of swagger in the net he briefly lost, but has now rediscovered tenfold this month.
With 39 saves and even an assist on the night, Shesterkin picked up his fifth straight victory
The Devils were on the power play for a staggering 11:52 of the 60-minute clash across the Hudson.
And yet, their 2019 first-overall pick, Jack Hughes, could not get on the board until the game was well out of hand.
Instead, it was the Rangers’ 2020 first-overall pick, Alexis Lafreniere, who put on the show with two goals.
They both came off the flashy hands of a top pick, but also on plays that required positional awareness.