Devils' preseason hot streak continues with 2-1 win over NYR

In their final home game of the preseason, the New Jersey Devils hosted their cross-Hudson rivals the New York Rangers on Saturday night. Newcomer Drew Stafford scored the game winner in a 2-1 Devils victory.

1. Without captain Andy Greene in the lineup, Coach John Hynes elected to go with three assistant captains. Adam Henrique, who wears the "A" on a regular basis, was joined by John Moore and Ben Lovejoy.
   2. Cory Schneider played his first full game of the preseason. He stopped 17 of the 18 shots he faced.
   3. Miles Wood briefly left the game early in the first period after he was leveled from a high hit delivered by Ranger Andrew Desjardins. Wood remained down on the ice momentarily, and was tended to by the team trainer, but was able to get up on his own. Moore came to his defense and fought Desjardins. Wood played just 1:14 and only four shifts in the first period. Desjardins received a match penalty for an illegal check to the head.
   
   Tweet from @NJDevils: Wood is back on the ice for a shift after taking a high hit earlier in the first period. #NYRvsNJD
   4. The Devils took two bench minors for too many men on the ice in the first period. Both times, they were able to hold off the Rangers to keep the score line 0-0.
   5. New Jersey held the edge in the shot department all throughout the evening. They outshot New York in every period. Taking nine, 15 and nine shots respectively for 33 shots total. The Rangers ended the night with 18.
   6. John Quenneville took a high elbow hit from Ranger Brendan Smith in the second period, which knocked him to the ice. Jimmy Hayes, playing in his third preseason game, jumped to his defense and dropped the gloves with Smith.
   Tweet from @NJDevils: Another high hit by the Rangers. This time it's Smith who hits Quenneville and @Jimmy10Hayes took exception to it. #NYRvsNJD pic.twitter.com/jxPD3QV3k1
   7. Joseph Blandisi scored his first goal of the preseason, finding a loose puck in front of Henrik Lundqvist and tapping it through the five hole. The Devils were on the power play when the Rangers took a penalty for too many men on the ice. Henrique and John Quenneville picked up the assists.
   Tweet from @NJDevils: ���� GOAL! ����@_themagicbullet cleans up in front or a PPG! @AdamHenrique and @jaquinder88 get the helpers at 8:41. #NYRvsNJD pic.twitter.com/vYqlyibt2c
   8. New Jersey was the victim of an early whistle late in the third period, when Stafford parked in front of Rangers goalie Brandon Halverson and tried to jam the puck in the net. The puck did eventually find the way to the back of the net, but the refs had already blown the whistle.
   Tweet from @NJDevils: Stafford jams the puck past Lundqvist but a quick whistle waves the goal off...#NYRvsNJD pic.twitter.com/4mgQLPAmjJ
   Moments later, however, Stafford exacted his revenge, scoring the go ahead goal for a 2-1 New Jersey lead. The goal was assisted by linemates Jesper Bratt and Pavel Zacha.
   9. Henrique led both teams in shots taken with seven.
   10. The Devils are hitting the road for a split squad game in their next matchup. Half of Hynes' players will be in PEI for Kraft Hockeyville, taking on the Ottawa Senators, while the other half of the team will be in Brooklyn to face the Islanders on Monday night.