Ok but in all fairness mj Jack Hughes (who is awesome) & his linemates aren't getting help from NJ's secondary lines.
- Devils taking ill-advised penalties (NYR PP: Devils aren't denying Fox straight-on shots that Kreider's tipping in left & right)
- NYR 3rd and esp. their 4th lines are keeping the Devils from turning this into a free-wheeling skatefest (i.e. while the Rangers have 'wheels' imho the Devils enjoy the slight edge overall speed-wise).
misc:
All of this is very true. Igor's made nice saves when he's had to as well, though he hasn't been overly tested either.
But that's what happens when you have a team that can't score if the high slot is clogged or they can't generate turnovers in the offensive or neutral zone. They can't generate anything when they're pushed along the boards, its been that way all year.
But as much as the Rangers have the clear experience edge, the special teams should not be this bad. Chris Kreider is a tremendous player who's always hurt the Devils, but he looks like freaking Ovechkin out there.
Lindy going to Brendan Smith in Game 2 and refusing to sit Miles Wood (I cannot WAIT until he fucks off in free agency) for Curtis Lazar has really hurt this team, but it doesn't matter when you have absolutely no answer as a staff to try and find a fast, young, high scoring core some space.
