Birthday boy Mika Zibanejad scored a power-play goal with three minutes to play and the New York Rangers beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 Sunday to sweep a four-game series over the past six days.
Chris Kreider, Vitali Kravtsov, Alexis Lafreniere and Ryan Strome also scored as the Rangers extended their season-high point streak to six games (5-0-1). Alexandar Georgiev, who had to leave the ice late in the first period with a lower-body injury only to return, finished with 25 saves as New York improved to 13-4-3 in its past 20 games.
Click to Gallery
Birthday boy Mika Zibanejad scored a power-play goal with three minutes to play and the New York Rangers beat the New Jersey Devils 5-3 Sunday to sweep a four-game series over the past six days.
Mikhail Maltsev, Marian Studenic and Nico Hischier scored for the Devils, who rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game. Mackenzie Blackwood had 21 saves as the Devils lost their sixth straight and fell to 1-8-2 in their past 11.
The game was similar to Saturday's matchup at Madison Square, where the Rangers built a 4-0 lead, saw the Devils get within a goal and then score two empty-net goals to put the game away.
Igor Shesterkin made two saves late in the first period before Georgiev returned for the final 40 minutes.
Coming into the game, Hughes had been called for one minor penalty in 43 games this season. He had 10 minutes in 61 games last year. He surpassed the total in one fit of anger.
Forward Nolan Foote became the sixth Devil to make his NHL debut this season. He joins Maltsev, Studenic, Ty Smith, Yegor Sharangovich, Tyce Thompson in the group. He got an assist on the Hischier goal
The win kept New York four points behind Boston in the East with 11 games left in the regular season. The Bruins, who have played two fewer games, beat Washington 6-3 earlier Sunday.
New York Rangers' Vitali Kravtsov, left, scores on New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood during the first period of the NHL hockey game in Newark, N.J., Sunday, April 18, 2021. (AP PhotoSeth Wenig)
Mikhail Maltsev, Marian Studenic and Nico Hischier scored for the Devils, who rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game. Mackenzie Blackwood had 21 saves as the Devils lost their sixth straight and fell to 1-8-2 in their past 11.
Zibanejad, who turned 28 and now has points in six straight games, got the winner on the Rangers sixth power play after being set up between the circles by Strome.
Strome was awarded a goal late after being hooked on a breakaway with the Devils net empty.
New York Rangers' Brett Howden, left, celebrates with teammates after assisting a goal by Vitali Kravtsov during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J., Sunday, April 18, 2021. (AP PhotoSeth Wenig)
The game was similar to Saturday's matchup at Madison Square, where the Rangers built a 4-0 lead, saw the Devils get within a goal and then score two empty-net goals to put the game away.
The Rangers opened a 3-0 lead in the second period, getting a power-play goal by Kreider, Kravtsov's first NHL goal and another by Lafreniere.
The young Devils got a goal by Maltsev late in the second and tallies by Studenic — his first in the NHL — and Hischier in the opening 5:30 of the third to tie the game.
New York Rangers' Ryan Lindgren, right, pushes New Jersey Devils' Jack Hughes into the boards during the first period of the NHL hockey game in Newark, N.J., Sunday, April 18, 2021. (AP PhotoSeth Wenig)
Igor Shesterkin made two saves late in the first period before Georgiev returned for the final 40 minutes.
ANGRY HUGHES
Devils center Jack Hughes, the top pick in the 2019 draft, was so annoyed with a second-period penalty call for tripping, he slammed his stick against the glass. He got a 10-minute misconduct for that one.
New York Rangers' Alexis Lafrenière, center, is pushed into New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, left, after scoring a goal during the second period of the NHL hockey game in Newark, N.J., Sunday, April 18, 2021. (AP PhotoSeth Wenig)
Coming into the game, Hughes had been called for one minor penalty in 43 games this season. He had 10 minutes in 61 games last year. He surpassed the total in one fit of anger.
The Devils' goals came with Hughes in the penalty box.
ANOTHER DEVILS DEBUT
New Jersey Devils' Mikhail Maltsev (23) scores against New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev during the second period of the NHL hockey game in Newark, N.J., Sunday, April 18, 2021. (AP PhotoSeth Wenig)
Forward Nolan Foote became the sixth Devil to make his NHL debut this season. He joins Maltsev, Studenic, Ty Smith, Yegor Sharangovich, Tyce Thompson in the group. He got an assist on the Hischier goal
Foote's father, Adam, won Stanley Cups in 1996 and 2001 with Colorado in a 19-year career. His brother, Cal, is a defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
NOTES: Rangers D Anthony Bitetto played for the first time since Feb. 24, a span of 27 games. D Libor Hajek got the day off. ... Kreider's goal was his 10th on the power play, among the best in the league. His 19 goals overall are tied with Pavel Buchnevich for the team lead. ... Devils F Andreas Johnsson snapped a 13-game point drought with an assist on Studenic's goal.
New York Rangers' Alexis Lafrenière, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Anthony Bitetto during the second period of the NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J., Sunday, April 18, 2021. (AP PhotoSeth Wenig)
UP NEXT
Rangers: head to Long Island to face the Islanders on Tuesday.
Devils: Travel to Pittsburgh for the first of three straight against the Penguins.
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports