Newark. The New York Rangers have done it again.
They beat New Jersey 5-1 in Newark last night as well and have now tightened their grip on home matches this weekend.
– The forest will be in the park on Saturday night, Mika Zibanejad says with a wide smile to Sportbladet.
In the second round of the night, the New Jersey Devils should have avenged a 5-1 loss to arch-rivals from Manhattan on Tuesday — and at first, it looked decidedly more optimistic.
They acted more aggressively, decisively, and also took the initiative. In a power play midway through the opening period, veteran Finn Erik Haula blocked a rebound.
took the match
But the last 40 minutes were like a replay of the first game. The more experienced Rangers players snatched guns out of the hands of the young home champions, mainly by clearing all the surfaces, slowing down, and when they got the chances, flicking the puck.
In the end, they won 5-1 again – after two goals from Chris Kreider, just like last time.
– Yes, he has found his way back into the same power-playing crowd as last year, says his good friend Mika Zibanejad when we meet him in the environs under the arches of the stands after the final whistle.
– In general, we played a good away game again, I think. Even though they got the lead, we didn’t give them enough to worry about. We continued to do our work.
You can decide at home
With tonight’s victory, the Blues are up 2-0 in the series and have a chance to make a decision at home at Madison Square Garden on Saturday and Monday – but Mika, himself, is credited with his first point in the playoffs this year in the form of an assist, and his teammates are very experienced at it. Ship anything in advance.
– Of course we know that nothing is certain. You are obviously happy after winning, but only the next match is important. If we don’t take care of the third game, we won’t feel like what we did here means much, he continues.
At the same time, I think the way we won these matches, more than the result itself, gives us a lot. We understand how to play.
And the talking 30-year-old – who celebrated with pancakes the day before the second game! – I look forward to being home in Manhattan again.
– Yes, it will be a lot of fun. Saturday night in the park…it’s going to be a forest, he smiles.
