After losing emphatically twice in a row at home, things looked dire as the series shifted to New York for Game 3 on Saturday night. With the odds set against them, Lindy Ruff’s team clamped down on defence and was opportunistic with a 2-1 overtime victory to make the series competitive again. As for the Rangers, they get another home game with an opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Gerard Gallant’s Rangers still get the edge on the NHL odds as -159 favourites on the moneyline and +166 on the puckline. The total is 6.0.

Devils vs. Rangers NHL Playoffs Betting Odds

The plot has thickened in this first-round series. Perhaps it was the fact that many thought New York would take the series regardless, coupled with back-to-back easy wins on the road. In any case, the Devils are not going down as meekly as some might have thought they would. The series odds remain tight, with the Rangers sitting at -270 and the Devils at +233.

New York’s postseason history can lend some lessons for this year’s Stanley Cup journey. They shouldn’t forget that they trailed the Penguins 3-1 in Round 1 a year ago as the favoured team and found a way to win 4-3. They know what it’s like being the team with home ice advantage and clawing back from an early series deficit. New Jersey, at least the current version of it, has no such experience but can rely on what helped pave its way to success this season.

Of note, the over hit in the two games contested in Newark whereas the under connected in the lone game played in Manhattan thus far. It goes without saying that no home team has earned a win. How much longer can that continue?

New Jersey Devils

Desperate times, desperate measures. Lindy Ruff knew some changes had to be made, but which ones? A big decision entering Game 3 was to replace the player between the pipes. Vitek Vanecek was out and Akira Schmid was in for his playoff debut.

It’s difficult to say if that’s really what made all the difference. Vanecek had been rather poor through two games, although so many shots in his direction were screened that it seems a little harsh to put all the blame on him. Nevertheless, there is no question that Schmid handled the situation far more admirably, shielding his net from 34 of 35 shots. The only Ranger to outduel him was, unsurprisingly, Chris Kreider, who is already at five goals this postseason. But then New Jersey managed to get under Igor Shesterkin’s skin, resulting in a man advantage situation. The Devils cashed in through Jack Hughes (second). It remained 1-1 right into overtime when New Jersey capitalized on a well-structured odd-man rush that allowed Dougie Hamilton (first) to roof a shot that made this a series again.

New York Rangers

One supposed that the Rangers couldn’t keep a strong team down indefinitely. It was a case of tables turning in Game 3. What the Rangers had been so successful at on the road they saw done to them at Madison Square Garden.

It wasn’t that the hosts couldn’t create chances. They most certainly did, as evidenced by the 35 shots they had on target to New Jersey’s 28. But for most of the night, it felt as though the Rangers were not as crisp as they had been in games 1 and 2. Look no further than their five powerplay opportunities which generated precious few quality scoring chances. After all, it had been the man advantage that propelled the Rangers to wins in New Jersey. The passes were a bit off and the chances on the attack were not as efficient. Despite the defeat, they can take solace in the fact that the Devils have scored only four goals in three games. Yes, they stole Game 3, but those kinds of numbers will not result in a series win.

Game 4 Prediction: Who Will Win Devils vs. Rangers?

DEVILS

Away

2

RANGERS

Home

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