It seemed like the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils were eager to kick off the regular season, judging by the fast-paced preseason game they played Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. Despite allowing just 12 shots on goal, the Rangers came up short, falling 3-1.
The Devils (3-2-1) pulled away in the third period, scoring twice on only six shots to break a 1-1 tie. Ondrej Palat put New Jersey ahead with a power-play goal at 2:44, and Dawson Mercer sealed the win with an empty-netter from beyond center ice with just 1:23 left in the game.
Adam Edstrom tallied the lone goal for New York — and he didn’t even shoot the puck. New Jersey’s Simon Nemec attempted to clear the zone, but the puck deflected off Edstrom’s skate and slid between goalie Jacob Markstrom’s pads at 13:30 of the second period.
That goal by Edstrom evened the score at 1-1. New Jersey had struck first during a fast-moving first period that saw minimal stoppages. The Devils capitalized on a costly turnover by Matt Rempe in the offensive zone, leading to Paul Cotter’s goal on the rush at 16:58.
Rempe initially won a puck battle along the right boards but misfired on his pass back to the blue line, sending it between rookie defensemen Brendan Morrow and Matthew Robertson. New Jersey’s Arseny Gritsyuk jumped on the opportunity, racing the other way and feeding a perfect cross-ice pass to Cotter, who beat Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick.
The Devils controlled possession for much of the first period, keeping the Rangers pinned in their own zone for long stretches. Still, New York managed to limit their chances by clogging shooting lanes, holding New Jersey to just three shots on goal — which was still one more than the Rangers managed.
The Rangers turned things around in the second period, outshooting the Devils 12-3 and dominating puck possession with a 73.2% expected goal share, according to Natural Stat Trick. Yet their only goal came on a lucky deflection. Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom stood tall late in the period, denying Edstrom from in close at 17:20, then making another strong stop on Conor Sheary from the doorstep 90 seconds later.
Ondrej Palat scored the eventual game-winner early in the third on New Jersey’s lone power play of the night — the Rangers had just one, too. Palat was perfectly positioned to redirect Dougie Hamilton’s low shot through Jonathan Quick’s pads.
Alexis Lafrenière had a prime chance to tie the game with under three minutes to go, slipping behind the defense for a backhand attempt, but Markstrom turned him away to preserve the win. The Devils’ netminder finished with 21 saves.
The Rangers (2-2-1) have one final tune-up before the regular season — a Saturday afternoon matchup in Boston against the Bruins. They’ll then kick off the 2025–26 campaign at home on Tuesday, hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. The next meeting with the Devils won’t come until March 7.
Here are three key takeaways from the Rangers’ 3-1 preseason loss to New Jersey:
There was some early concern when Artemi Panarin was noticeably absent during pregame warmups. The star winger, nicknamed “The Breadman,” was expected to make his preseason debut after missing the first four games with a lower-body injury. However, he was held out once again — this time as a precaution.
Panarin had returned to practice and took part in Thursday’s morning skate, which made his late scratch all the more surprising.
“I told you guys he’s day-to-day, and we were going to err on the side of caution — him and J.T. [Miller]. And that’s where we are right now,” Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan said after the game.
Miller, also dealing with a lower-body injury, did not play Thursday night either.
In Panarin’s absence, Conor Sheary was promoted from the third line to skate alongside Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafrenière. Adam Edstrom moved up from the fourth line to take Sheary’s spot next to Juuso Parssinen and Taylor Raddysh. Jonny Brodzinski entered the lineup and centered the fourth line with Noah Laba and Matt Rempe.
Don’t try telling Vincent Trocheck this was just a preseason game — not with the Devils on the other side. The 32-year-old center only knows how to play one way: all out.
Trocheck led the Rangers with three shots on goal and a team-high six hits. He also set up each of New York’s top scoring chances, including those by Edstrom, Sheary, and Lafrenière.
Late in the third period, he got under the skin of Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, and the two were handed offsetting minors for roughing. While sitting in the box, Trocheck removed his protective bubble mask — worn for a broken nose — along with his helmet, and exchanged heated words with Siegenthaler.
“I think that’s a big part of his game,” coach Mike Sullivan said afterward. “He’s at his best when he’s right in the thick of things. That’s the kind of player he is — a fierce competitor. He plays with a lot of heart.”
It’s no surprise why many still consider Trocheck the emotional engine of this Rangers team.
Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan is eager to finalize his opening-night lineup. With the roster currently at 26 players, the team will need to trim at least three — and likely four — to reach the regular-season limit. They’re expected to open the season with 22 players on the active roster.
“Ideally, we’d like to get a little closer to the final group,” Sullivan said following Thursday’s loss to the Devils. “Obviously, I’ll talk to [GM Chris Drury] tonight and tomorrow morning and put a game plan together for that.”
All of the young players still battling for roster spots suited up for a fifth straight preseason game, though none delivered a standout performance. Noah Laba, who leads the Rangers this preseason with five points (one goal, four assists), began the night on the fourth line but earned extra shifts in the third, skating with Juuso Parssinen and Gabe Perreault. The trio generated one sustained offensive-zone shift midway through the final period, applying pressure around the Devils’ net.
Defenseman Brendan Morrow played 15:07 but had a rough outing, being on the ice for all four goals in the game — three against, one for.
“We’re trying to give these guys as long a look as possible,” Sullivan added. “It’s about giving them every opportunity to show us where they might fit on the roster right now.”