(New York) Chris Kreider scored on the power play late in the third period and the New York Rangers beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Wednesday in a game marked by a general scrum from the start.
Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafrenière each had a goal and an assist, while Kaapo Kakko also found the back of the net for the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin made 17 saves for his team, which has won six of its last seven games.
Nico Hischier, Ondrej Palat and Brendan Smith scored in the second period for the Devils. Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 37 pucks.
The Devils have lost three straight games.
The Rangers and Devils started the game with a general scrum involving all 10 players on the ice, from the initial faceoff.
The main fight was between forwards Matt Rempe of the Rangers and Quebecer Kurtis MacDermid.
Both players have a history dating back to the last match between the two clubs, on March 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
PHOTO WENDELL CRUZ, USA TODAY SPORTS
Kaapo Kakko (24) celebrates his goal scored in the third period.
During this match, Rempe refused an invitation to fight from MacDermid.
Later in the game, the Rangers forward hit defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler with a high elbow in his direction. Kempe was suspended four games for his actions.
Four players from each team were ejected from the match on Wednesday, just two seconds after it started.
In addition to Rempe, defensemen Jacob Trouba and K’Andre Miller and forward Barclay Goodrow were also forced out of the game for the Rangers.
MacDermid, defensemen Kevin Bahl, John Marino and forward Chris Tierney also saw their evening of work end.
Miller battled Marino, Trouba threw down the gloves against Tierney, Goodrow took on Bahl and Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey battled Curtis Lazar.
Vesey and Lazar were not evicted.
Some four minutes later, Rangers’ Will Cuylle engaged Dawson Mercer after Cuylle sent Brendan Smith into the ramp.
The Rangers have won all four meetings this season against the Devils, less than a year after seeing their rivals eliminate them in the first round of the playoffs.