ESPN.com · Apr 19, 2023
Devils admit early 'jitters' in sloppy Game 1 loss to Rangers
After the New Jersey Devils' first playoff game since 2018 ended with a humbling loss to the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, coach Lindy Ruff sought a silver lining.
"The good thing is that now everybody has a game under their belt," he said.
The Devils lost 5-1 to the rival Rangers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference opening-round series at the Prudential Center in Newark. In the regular season, the most successful in franchise history, New Jersey was a young, flashy offensive team that overwhelmed opponents with their speed. But the experienced Rangers frustrated them with physical play and layers of defense, and goalie Igor Shesterkin did the rest, finishing with 27 saves.