Devils Lose First Preseason Contest to Rangers | GAME STORY

The Devils' undefeated preseason run came to an abrupt halt in the world's most famous arena after falling, 6-2, to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden Wednesday night.
The Rangers received goals from Mika Zibanejad (2), Kaapo Kakko, Sammy Blais, Barclay Goodrow and Artemi Panarin.
New Jersey, which is now 4-1 in the preseason, goal scorers were Andreas Johnsson and Marián Studenič.
Here are some more observations from the game...
* Let's start with the obvious. The final score, and the particularly the second period, were not pretty. But it shouldn't be surprising considering the talent discrepancy between the two lineups.
The Rangers dressed Panarin, Zibanejad, Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba, Kakko, Chris Kreider and Igor Shesterkin, among others. New York basically iced a lineup that will be close to what we'll see come the start of the regular season. The Devils, on the other hand, played mostly young players and bubble roster players with a few exceptions.

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WHAT'S NEXT
New Jersey returns home to play their first preseason game at Prudential Center in over two years. The game can be seen on MSG+ and heard on the Devils Hockey Network, including right here at NewJerseyDevils.com. Puck drop is 7:08 p.m. ET.
Tickets are still available. Get them here
So, the final scoring being a lopsided affair in the Rangers favor is no surprise. Just as the Devils 7-1 lopsided victory against New York last Friday was no surprise. In that game in Newark the teams did the reverse with their lineups and as such the results were reversed.
"We handed them a couple pucks and handed them a couple goals that looked like our game in Jersey," head coach Lindy Ruff said. "There was good stuff in there.
"It was a learning experience for a lot of our younger players, guys that haven't played in the league a lot."
Moral of the story, take both the blowout loss and win for New Jersey very lightly. Don't read too much between the skate shavings.
* As far as the bubble players in the lineup, one player who never imagined being in such a role had to be forward Andreas Johnsson. But after scoring just five goals in a disappointing 2020-21 season, he is fighting for a roster spot.
Johnsson, who scored 20 with Toronto in 2018-19, was teamed with the talented Pavel Zacha and Jesper Bratt. So, the coaching staff was giving him a look to see what he can do, and he delivered. He tallied his first preseason goal after tapping in a perfect setup into a vacant cage.
"I'm glad I got this opportunity," Johnsson said. "It was nice to score a goal, but how the game went, it wasn't too fun out there.
"I feel like I have more to show. Where can I create chances, get some confidence to hold the puck more, try to create a little bit by myself and help my teammates, too. Good game to get the opportunity to play with two skilled guys and nice to score a goal, but I can't find too many happy things right now."
* In the third period, with goalie Jonathan Bernier down and out, Johnsson dropped to his knees to make a save and denied the Rangers a goal. So that's one goal and one save for Johnsson.
"I saw a guy that scored a goal and got himself in the right place a couple of times," Ruff said. "He played a better game. That's more of what we really want to see out of him."
* Johnsson finished off the aforementioned scoring play for the goal, but give two enthusiastic assists to Zacha and Bratt. Zacha did the dirty work at the end boards, winning a battle and collecting the puck. He then found Bratt in the low circle. Bratt made a great "shot-fake" before sending the puck across the mouth of the crease for Johnsson to tap in. I'm not sure if Bratt actually meant to do the head-stick fake, or if he actually tried shooting, saw Johnsson from the corner of his eye and opted to pass at the last second. Either way, it completely fooled Shesterkin and the result was a well-lit red lamp.
"I saw (Bratt) and knew if he wanted to pass (to) me, he would find me," Johnsson said. "I just tried to get to an open space there."
* P.K. Subban found himself involved a lot in the action, and not the type you'd expect.
The bad blood started - or at least in this game anyway - after Subban and Rangers forward Ryan Reeves were both skating toward the corner for a loose puck in the first period. Their skates tangled and Reeves' left knee buckled. He needed assistance off the ice and did not return. Subban immediately signaled to the referee and tried to help Reeves while he lay prone.
"It's a tough play. In preseason you try to go out and play and get your reps in, and hopefully you don't get hurt or too banged up," Subban said. "It's just unfortunate. You hate to see that. ... I hope it's not too bad.
"Things happen on the ice. It's obviously an accident. I've been playing in this league for a long time. I don't go out there and try to injury anybody or do anything like that. I play the game fair, but I play the game hard ... The only thing I'm focused on is Ryan recovers quickly and is back on the ice. That's all I want to see."
Nonetheless, Rangers forward Chris Kreider wasn't thrilled about the situation. He started jawing with Subban after the play. Then he attempted to fight Subban in the second period, but Subban declined and kept his gloves on while Kreider gripped the Devils defenseman's jersey. However, in the third period Kreider would try again and this time Subban - kind of - obliged. Mostly the two wrestled to the ice. It did generate some fireworks and a dose of boos from the MSG crowd anytime Subban touched the puck. Subban's night came to an early end over halfway through the third period when he and Goodrow were given 10-minute misconducts.
"It wasn't anything vicious and I didn't think there was really any intent there," Ruff said. "If (Reeves) doesn't fall the way he does, probably nothing is every made of that play. But getting his leg caught underneath him the way it did, I understand why (the Rangers) were upset."
* So far, so good from the newest Devil - Mason Geertsen. The converted forward wasn't quite noticeable in his team debut Monday night. However, that was not the case against his most recent former employer.
Geertsen was throwing his body around, finishing his checks and drew the ire of some former teammates. He got into a post-whistle scrum with Ryan Lindgren. After Subban was tossed from the game, Geertsen, a natural defenseman, went back to the blue line to fill in.
"I thought he played well and played really solid on defense," Ruff said. "He's finishing checks. He's challenged two or three guys but nobody has really wanted to go. The fact that he's there and playing the way he is, he has to be able to play and he's showing us that he can play. He can play two positions actually, which can come in handy."