Devils top Rangers, get closer to playoff berth

NEWARK, N.J. --The New Jersey Devils moved closer to qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011-12 with a 5-2 win against the New York Rangers at Prudential Center on Tuesday.

Taylor Hall had two goals and two assists, Will Butcher scored two power-play goals, and Travis Zajac had a goal and an assist for the Devils (43-28-9), who are 9-2-1 in their past 12 games. Keith Kinkaid made 22 saves and is 6-0-1 in seven straight starts.
The Devils moved into the first wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers.
WATCH: [All Rangers vs. Devils highlights]
Butcher scored his second goal at 6:53 of the second period to give the Devils a 4-1 lead.
"Hall is so good at manipulating the penalty-kill box," Butcher said. "On my second goal, he took their forward all the way down and that gave me all day to walk in and take a wrister. He's smart and knows how to open up space."

Hall scored on a penalty shot after being hooked from behind by Brady Skjei on a breakaway to make it 5-1 at 15:45.
"I just saw [Lundqvist's] glove hand open," Hall said. "Maybe he thought I was going to go five-hole after scoring a few there lately, but I saw it and just tried to get it off my stick as quickly as I could."
Hall heard chants of "MVP" from Devils fans after several big plays.
"It's not something I'm used to, to be honest," Hall said of the chants. "As a player, and as I've gotten older, it's become less and less about what I'm doing and how many points I'm getting and more how can I help the team. How can I contribute."
The Devils took a 3-0 lead in the first period on goals by Zajac (25 seconds), and Hall (3:41) and Butcher (10:40) on the power play. The Rangers made it 3-1 when Ryan Spooner redirected a pass by Jimmy Vesey from the slot at 17:47.

Kevin Hayes scored at 14:26 of the third period to make it 5-2, and Henrik Lundqvist made 39 saves for the Rangers (34-37-9), who are eliminated from playoff contention.
"We didn't have the start we wanted," New York coach Alain Vigneault said. "We made a low-percentage play on the first goal and then we took two penalties that led to a 3-0 lead. We're going to have a good practice tomorrow and get ready for the next game and have a better start."
The Devils went 3-for-4 on the power play.
Hall (93 points; 39 goals, 54 points), who has six goals in a four-game goal streak and 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in a nine-game point streak, is the first Devils player to score 90 points since Zach Parise (94 points) in 2008-09. He needs three points to tie Patrik Elias (96 points in 2000-01) for New Jersey's single-season scoring record.
New Jersey is 31-0-2 when leading after two periods this season.

Goal of the game

Butcher's goal at 10:40 of the first period.

Save of the game

Kinkaid's save on Chris Kreider at 15:29 of the third period.

Highlight of the game

Hall's penalty shot at 15:45 of the second period.

They said it

"For me [our] skill is there. It's about reads. When to step up, when to step back. When you play teams behind you in the standings, you get away with stuff. When you play good teams, the reads are so critical as is managing the puck." -- Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist
"I don't think I've ever played with someone like Taylor Hall; maybe in Mites when a couple of guys would score every game. It's really fun to watch and be part of. It's great to call him a teammate. He's such a huge part of our team and does so much for us. Everything he's done on the ice speaks for itself, and up close and personal, it's one of the more remarkable seasons I've seen." -- Devils forward Brian Boyle

Need to know

Hayes has four points (three goals, one assist) in a four-game point streak. … Rangers forward David Desharnais was a late replacement for Cody McLeod, who attempted to warm up but was too ill to play. ... With 44 points (five goals, 39 assists), Butcher set the record for the most in a season by a Devils rookie defenseman, passing Viacheslav Fetisov (42, 1989-90). Butcher also had the first multigoal game of his NHL career. … New Jersey forward Kyle Palmieri has eight points (four goals, four assists) in a six-game point streak.

What's next

Rangers: At the New York Islanders on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+ 2, MSG, NHL.TV)
Devils: Host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, TSN4, NHL.TV)