The Devils had all the momentum going into game 5 as they evened up the series at MSG.
New Jersey flipped the script against New York on their home ice after getting embarrassed at home.Game 5 started out with a bang as New Jersey wasted no time striking first. Thirty-nine seconds into the game, Ondrej Palat buried his 50th career postseason goal in the back of the net. It was Palat’s second goal of the series. The former Tampa Bay Lightning superstar has made an immediate impact on this young Devils squad in his first year with the team. He brings championship level experience as he won two Stanley Cups with the Lightning.
This upstart Devils team would not be in this position if not for the outstanding job rookie goaltender Akira Schmid has done. Schmid had taken over for starting goalie, Vitek Vanecek. Vanecek really struggled in the first two games, allowing a combined 10 goals. Schmid has been brilliant in the three games he has started. He held the Rangers to a mere 2 goals.
After an amazing stop by the rookie goalie, Dawson Mercer broke away down the ice shorthanded and put the game away with an assist from Erik Haula. It was Mercer’s first career playoff goal. New Jersey completely dominated this game from start to finish. The Devils blanked the New York Rangers 4-0.
All the pressure is now on the Rangers as they look to tie up the series and force a game 7 Monday night. The Rangers will have their home fans behind them as the series shifts back to Madison Square
Garden for a critical game 6.
Beautiful piece.
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