Game Preview NYR 4-18 Smith

The Devils and New York Rangers meet for the final time this season and wrap up their four-game Hudson River Rivalry Week series Sunday afternoon at Prudential Center.
You can watch the game on MSG+ or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.

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Hischier 4-18 NYR

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PRE-GAME STORY

NEWARK, N.J.- The New Jersey Devils will once again be without the services of forwards Pavel Zacha (undisclosed) and Jesper Bratt (lower-body) for Sunday afternoon's series finale against the New York Rangers at Prudential Center.
However, Devils head coach Lindy Ruff anticipates that they may rejoin the team shortly.
"Both guys are getting close," he said. "We're hopeful that maybe within a game or two they'll be back."
FOOT STEPS
The loss of Zacha and Bratt, the team's top two scorers, has created an opening for other players to get into the lineup. As such, another player making his NHL debut this season will be 6-foot-3, 195-pound forward Nolan Foote.
"You may see him with a couple different people, a couple different linemates at different times," Ruff said, "we'd really like him to have a first game that he can remember."
Foote, who was the a first-round pick (27th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft by Tampa Bay, has played 20 games this season with Binghamton of the American Hockey League. The 20-year-old has posted six goals and 16 points.
"A real big body. I know he's got a wicked shot," Ruff said. "He can use his body down low to create his own chances. Physically he can be a tough guy to play against. I know it's his first game, but I think when he's on the puck, he's a tough guy to take it from. And he brings a lot of energy."
The Devils acquired Foote and a 2020 first-round pick from the Lightning in exchange for Blake Coleman.

PREVIEW

DEVILS (14-23-6) vs. NY RANGERS (22-16-6)
TV:MSG+ AT 3:00 PM ET
Head-to-Head
The Devils and New York Rangers meet for the final time this season Sunday afternoon at Prudential Center. It will also be the final meeting of the recent four-game Hudson River Rivalry Week series. The Rangers hold a 3-0 edge thus far.
The teams meet for the second half of back-to-back afternoons after the Rangers won Saturday, 6-3, at Madison Square Garden.
New York holds a 5-2 season series lead. The Rangers are 2-0 at Prudential Center this season.
Devils Team Scope:
New Jersey is currently without forwards Pavel Zacha, who missed the last three games with an undisclosed injury, and Jesper Bratt, who missed the last two contests with a lower-body issue.
The club re-inserted defenseman Matt Tennyson into the lineup Saturday. The right-handed shot created a left-right balance on the blue line. It was his first game action since Feb. 16. He skated 14:38 minutes and blocked three shots.
The Devils recalled 2019 first-round pick (Tampa Bay) Nolan Foote to the taxi squad, and he could make his NHL debut Sunday afternoon.
Rangers Team Scope:
New York has turned its season around and is in contention for a playoff position, just four points behind fourth-placed Boston. Since March 13, the club is 12-4-3 and has a plus-35 goal differential.
The Rangers have experienced an offensive explosion in the past month. Since March 17, defenseman Adam Fox has 22 assists and 25 points. Mika Zibanejad has potted 11 goals while adding 25 points. In that span they've also received contributions from Panarin (28 points), Ryan Strome (19 assists) and Buchnevich (11 goals).
Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin had a shutout sequence of 199:33 minutes against New Jersey before it was snapped by Michael McLeod in the second period Saturday. He had back-to-back shutouts in that span.
By the Numbers:
McLeod scored his seventh goal of the season, while Yegor Sharangovich potted his 10th on the year Saturday.
Panarin posted three points (1G-3A) against the Devils on Saturday. He has recorded eight three-point games at home this season, the most by a Rangers player since Jaromir Jagr in 2006-07. He has goals in three straight games, and 32 points (11G-21A) since returning to the lineup March 13.
Injury Update:
Devils:Bratt (lower-body), Zacha (undisclosed).
NY Rangers:Johnson (abdomen).