New Jersey Devils take home another great preseason Win

Professional, Featured, Ice Hockey, New Jersey Devils

September 29, 2023

The New Jersey Devils are back for their third preseason game of this season at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers. This past Thursday’s game, September 28th, concluded with a Devils win at 3-2. Former Michigan Wolverine, Luke Hughes(43) is back on the ice alongside his brother, Jack Hughes, attempting to take a few wrist shots during the first period. There were many very minor penalties amongst this game.

For the Devils, Tyler Toffoli, one of the newest players coming from Calgary this season, scored with a backhand shot with just minutes remaining in the first period. The goal was assisted by Simon Nemec, who is also a newer defenseman as he was drafted back in 2022. Alternative captain Jack Hughes also had an assist on the goal. The Devils ended the first period with a 1-0 lead as they took a lot of shots at Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin.

The Devils have looked good so far this preseason with the newer rookies and trades making an impact so far. The Rangers were able to tie the score up about midway through the second period with a goal by Erik Gustafsson at the 9:50 mark, but the Devils did not let that stop them from coming up victorious.

The Devils did not score at all during the second period, but there was a minor penalty on defenseman Kevin Bahl for interference against Nick Bonino.

Right winger Jesper Bratt took a snap shot just twenty-five seconds into the third which beat Shesterkin, making it with assists from defensemen, Bahl and Hughes. Bahl had two assists on the night, while Hughes also had one . Akira Schmid was the starting goaltender for the Devils Thursday night. There was a lot of goalie stoppage throughout this game amongst both teams as they gave other goaltenders a chance to lay.

Center Michael McLeod, whose contract recently was just extended this past summer, gave the Devils their 3-1 advantage over the Rangers in the third with 1:35 left in the game. His goal off the wrist shot was unassisted.

But along side that, they played well Thursday and stayed content, positive, and reactive.

Although, it is preseason, it is important for the team to warm up to each other and play with each other even more than before, so that they will be able to work up plays and strategies to better their performance for this upcoming 2023-2024 NHL season.