The Devils dominated the Rangers 7-1, with Luke Hughes scoring twice and Sheldon Keefe earning his 300th NHL coaching win.
The New Jersey Devils delivered an emphatic performance on Thursday, October 15, defeating the New York Rangers 7-1 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Defenseman Luke Hughes scored twice to lead an explosive offensive display that helped New Jersey secure its second consecutive victory. The Devils improved to 4-3-0, while the Rangers fell to 6-3-0 after suffering their most decisive defeat of the young season. New Jersey combined efficient finishing, contributions from multiple players and dependable goaltending to overwhelm its Metropolitan Division rival. The victory also marked the 300th NHL coaching win for Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe, making the result particularly memorable for the organization.
First Period Momentum Shift
New Jersey opened the scoring late in the first period when Evan Rodrigues found the net at 19:30. Rodrigues intercepted a cross-ice pass from Rangers captain J.T. Miller near the top of the right faceoff circle before beating goaltender Dylan Garand with a wrist shot. The goal gave the Devils a 1-0 advantage heading into the intermission and provided an important foundation for their subsequent scoring surge. Rodrigues continued his encouraging start with New Jersey after recording his first Devils goal in the team’s overtime victory against Detroit earlier in the week. Although the opening period remained relatively close, the late goal shifted momentum toward the home team.
Second Period Explosion
Luke Hughes sparked the decisive second-period explosion by scoring just 18 seconds after the restart. His wrist shot deflected off Rangers defenseman Adam Fox before entering the net, extending New Jersey’s lead to 2-0. Nico Hischier increased the advantage at 4:08, finishing from close range near the left post. Just 31 seconds later, Arseny Gritsyuk scored from the right faceoff circle to make it 4-0. The rapid sequence forced New York to replace Garand with Spencer Martin at 4:39. Garand finished his outing with nine saves on 13 shots, while Martin entered a difficult situation against an increasingly confident Devils attack. Hughes returned to the scoresheet at 16:34, scoring his second goal of the evening to give New Jersey a commanding 5-0 lead.
Final Period and Key Contributions
New Jersey maintained its advantage during the third period, adding two more goals while limiting New York’s opportunities to recover. Stefan Noesen scored at 7:01 to extend the lead to 6-0, further emphasizing the Devils’ scoring depth. The Rangers finally responded at 8:02 when Pavel Dorofeyev converted a power-play opportunity, with Fox and Alexis Lafrenière credited with assists. However, the goal provided little momentum for a comeback. Instead, Cody Glass delivered the final blow at 14:54, scoring shorthanded to establish the 7-1 final score. New Jersey’s seven goals came from Rodrigues, Hughes, Hischier, Gritsyuk, Noesen and Glass, demonstrating how effectively different players contributed to the offensive effort.
Goaltending and Team Effort
Goaltender Nico Daws also played a crucial role in the victory, stopping 18 shots and earning his first win of the season. His performance provided stability behind a Devils team that repeatedly converted offensive chances while protecting its substantial lead. Rodrigues contributed a goal and an assist, while Timo Meier, Brett Pesce, Dawson Mercer, Dougie Hamilton and Amadeus Lombardi each recorded two assists. Those secondary contributions helped sustain New Jersey’s attack throughout the contest. Martin made 15 saves after replacing Garand, but the Rangers could not recover from their second-period collapse. New York’s defensive breakdowns and inability to slow the Devils’ momentum proved decisive.
Ultimately, New Jersey’s 7-1 victory represented a convincing statement against its fierce local rival. The Devils improved to 4-3-0, won consecutive games and gave Keefe his 300th NHL coaching victory. Hughes emerged as the leading scorer, Daws delivered an important performance in goal, and multiple teammates contributed offensively. The Rangers dropped to 6-3-0 and will need to address their defensive mistakes before their next matchup. Although New York managed a power-play goal, its overall performance fell short against a Devils team that controlled the decisive stretches. New Jersey will aim to carry this momentum forward, while the Rangers must respond with better defensive structure and more consistent execution.
