Siegenthaler, Devils top Rangers in Game 4 to even Eastern 1st Round

NEW YORK -- Jonas Siegenthaler had a goal and an assist for the New Jersey Devils in a 3-1 win against the New York Rangers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

Siegenthaler gave the Devils a 2-1 lead at 8:22 of the third period with his first career Stanley Cup Playoff goal, a snap shot from the left face-off circle. Nico Hischier threaded the needle on a pass from along the right-wing half boards to find the New Jersey defenseman.
"I saw that little hole and just tried to jump in there," Siegenthaler said. "[Hischier] made the incredible play to me, and so I just tried to shoot it low blocker and it went in."
Siegenthaler, who was a healthy scratch in a 5-1 loss in Game 2, got the first two points of his career in 14 NHL playoff games.
The best-of-7 series is tied 2-2. Game 5 will be in New Jersey on Thursday.

Jack Hughes and Ondrej Palat scored, and Akira Schmid made 22 saves for the Devils, the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division.
"We were really focused on our own game, focused on what we were doing," Hughes said. "That was a really good performance by us in the defensive zone and in the neutral zone in slowing them down. We got enough offense to win the game too."
Schmid made 35 saves in a 2-1 overtime win in Game 3 here Saturday in his first NHL playoff start. He is the second goalie in Devils history to win each of his first two playoff games (Chris Terreri, 1990).
"The defense in front is taking away sticks and our forwards are blocking shots, so that's made my life easier," Schmid said. "It's been an amazing job the last two games."
RELATED: [Complete Devils vs. Rangers series coverage]
Vincent Trocheck scored, and Igor Shesterkin made 20 saves for the Rangers, the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan.
New York outscored New Jersey 10-2 in the first two games of the series.
"Not good enough ... not even close to good," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "It was better in Game 3. We asked for something and sometimes when you ask it doesn't happen, but it was real disappointing to watch that."
The Rangers went 0-for-3 on the power play after going 0-for-5 in Game 2. New York was 4-for-10 in the first two games.
"Their power play is really dangerous, and we felt in the first two games we just gave them too much time," Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. "We've tried to be a lot more aggressive, but we've had saves when we've gone down that route. We've kind of frustrated them on their entries and we got to continue to do it."
Trocheck tied it 1-1 at 1:42 of the third period when he scored off a rebound from the slot. Chris Kreider took a backhand from the right hash marks that Schmid stopped before Trocheck scored his first goal of the playoffs on a wrist shot inside the right post.

Hughes gave New Jersey a 1-0 lead at 2:50 of the first period, scoring on a breakaway while skating straight at Shesterkin after tucking a wrist shot inside the left post. Schmid made a pad save on a deflection from the slot by
Alexis Lafreniere
seconds earlier before Siegenthaler led Hughes with a backhand clearing attempt to center ice.
"I think we were playing hard; I mean, their first goal was sitting in the crease in their end, and it looked like it was going to be 1-0 us and they get a break," Trocheck said. "Hughes in the neutral zone, they get a flip for a breakaway, and you give him a breakaway he's probably going to score. We just need to get a few more chances and bear down."
Palat scored an empty-net goal with 26 seconds left for the 3-1 final.
"We've taken a couple really good steps," New Jersey forward Erik Haula said. "That Game 3 was really good for us as a whole, learning how hard it is to win, what you need to do to win, and same thing in Game 4. We stuck with it, and everyone is doing the right things."
NOTES: Hughes became the second player in Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts history to score three goals through his first four career playoff games, joining John MacLean (1988). It was Hughes' eighth career goal against Shesterkin, including three in this series. It is the most by a player in the NHL against the Rangers goalie. ... Hischier went 13-for-20 on face-offs in 23:51 of ice time. ... Kreider has had at least one point in each game of the series (five goals, one assist).