Photos by Danny Wilde-Imagine
The New York Rangers will look to remain perfect in the preseason when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Monday night in the fourth of their six preseason games.
The Rangers went a perfect 3-0-0, defeating the Boston Bruins 3-2 and 5-2, and the New York Islanders 6-4, a game that saw them erase 3-0 and 4-1 deficits.
The Devils have been busy over the offseason adding veterans like goaltender Jacob Markstrom and defenseman Brett Pesce, as well as hiring Sheldon Keefe as their new head coach.
However, don’t expect to see New Jersey’s big names shining at the Prudential Center or in Tuesday night’s rematch at Madison Square Garden. All of their NHL-level talent is in Europe for the 2024-25 NHL Global Series; The Devils face the Buffalo Sabers on Friday and Saturday in Prague. The Rangers will likely match the Devils in terms of roster strength, which means we’ll get a closer look at the prospects and a few key players vying for the final spots on the roster.
As for New Jersey, expect a roster of hungry players and prospects who are also looking to make an impression in the future. The Devils are 0-4-0 in the preseason, with two losses to the Islanders and one each to the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens. NHL rookies or not, they will be hungry to win.
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3 things to watch for when the Rangers visit the Devils for a preseason game
Here are three things to watch for Monday night.
1. The Rangers’ evaluation process continues against a weak Devils lineup
While it would be nice to get an early taste of how the Rangers will face the Devils this season, that won’t be the case in any of the preseason games against New Jersey. However, there is still a lot to gain for the Rangers, despite facing primarily an AHL lineup.
“We are still in the evaluation process, regardless of the players we select to play,” Peter Laviolette said on Sunday. “It’s still training camp, there’s still a chance to evaluate. We’ll use it exactly as it is, what it was in the first three games, and what it will be in the last three games. It will definitely be different, because their team has traveled abroad.
Although he will likely field a similar lineup that lacks many NHL regulars, it is still business as usual for Laviolette. In fact, it looks as if he’ll use this opportunity to take an extended look at players who are really pushing for a roster spot, including forwards Brennan Osman, Adam Edstrom and Brett Berard, as well as defensemen Victor Mancini and. Connor Mackey. The top three could be helped by the absence of regular fourth lineman Jimmy Vesey; Laviolette said the 31-year-old “will be out for a few weeks” due to a lower-body injury sustained during training on Sunday.
2. Victor Mancini will have a great chance to impress
If there was ever a time for a player like Mancini to build on his already impressive pre-season, that time is now. The 22-year-old has opened eyes in camp and impressed in his two pre-season games. After recording a goal and an assist in his preseason debut and playing well in his second game, Mancini quickly inserted himself into the conversation to take the sixth or seventh spot on the Rangers’ blue line.
With Ryan Lindgren out for at least a few weeks with an upper-body injury, Mancini has a greater chance of cracking the lineup if he can maintain this level of play. The right shot says he has no problem switching to the left side – perhaps even in Lindgren’s place with Adam Fox in the first pair. He’ll have a great opportunity to show what he can do on Monday night.
While Mancini won’t be facing a lot of talent at the NHL level, he will be eager to make another good impression on Laviolette and the rest of the Rangers players. Expect him to play top-pair minutes against New Jersey and have another big game.
3. Osman, Edstrom and Berard vying for a roster spot Danny Wilde-Imagine Images
While it’s possible those three players will start the season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ American Hockey League affiliate, Osman, Edstrom, and Berard will get the spotlight against the Devils to prove they deserve a roster spot with the Rangers. With few, if any, NHL starters in either lineup, these three players should not only log big minutes, they should have the opportunity to excel. If they are truly ready for the NHL, they should dominate a team made up of prospects and young players.
Osman finally found the scoresheet with a goal and an assist against the Bruins in New York’s 5-2 preseason win last Thursday, while Edstrom had two goals and an assist in two preseason games, one of which was an empty-net goal against Boston. Berard has yet to score a point in pre-season.
Vesey’s absence opens up another spot for one or more of these players.
While Edstrom looks to earn a spot on the fourth line, things get tougher for Osman and Berard, who would be better suited to play in the top nine — or play big minutes in Hartford.
“For young players, being here all year and not playing, it’s probably not a good thing,” Laviolette explained. “I think getting the playing time and experience is probably more beneficial.”
If Osman, Edstrom or Berard are looking to stick with the big club this season, they will need a strong showing during the second half of training camp. A big game against New Jersey would be a great way to start.
Rangers vs. Devils preseason game: when, where, at what time and how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils
Location: Al-Hassaf Center
When: Monday, September 30 at 7 p.m. ET
How to watch: MSG Network
Click here for the full New York Rangers 2024-25 schedule and matchup scores
Dane Walsh is a lifelong New York Rangers fan. Dane grew up in the tri-state area, and has… More about Dane Walsh
Mentioned in this article: Adam Edstrom Brennan Orthman Brett Berard New Jersey Devils New York Rangers Peter Laviolette Victor Mancini
More about: New York Rangers News
