The New York Rangers were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the New Jersey Devils, losing 4-0 in Game 7 of the best-of-7 Eastern Conference First Round. The Rangers won the first two games of the series with identical 5-1 scores, but struggled to generate opportunities and sustain puck possession in the offensive zone in the next five games.
The Rangers’ top players, including Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Patrick Kane, struggled to score against the Devils, while the power play went silent after four goals in the first seven chances. The Rangers’ inability to sustain momentum and their struggles with the Devils’ speed contributed to their elimination.
Additionally, the Devils’ decision to start 22-year-old rookie Akira Schmid in Game 3, after the Rangers won the first two games, paid off as Schmid won four of the next five games with two shutouts, a 1.38 goals-against average, and .951 save percentage.
The Rangers finished the regular season with a 47-22-13 record and were the third seed in the Metropolitan Division.
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