Rangers-Devils Game 7 live updates: scores, news, more from the NHL playoffs – New York Post

If Rangers extend their season beyond this Game 7, they will now have to close a two-goal deficit.

Tomas Tatar scored just four minutes before the end of the second period, the Devils led 2-0.

That was exactly what Devils were looking for when they signed Ondrej Palat — a member of the Lightning during their recent Stanley Cup runs — to a five-year offseason deal.

Palat forced a turnover from Adam Fox in the Rangers’ zone and he eventually took possession of the ball, threading a pass to Michael McLeod near the crease. After a quick move, McLeod stuck the puck past Igor Shesterkin with a backhand flip, handballing the Devils 1-0.

It was like Rangers’ first power play in the first period.

About a minute into the Devils’ man-advantage opportunity, Jesper Bratt was called upon to bring down Barclay Goodrow, meaning the two teams would spend the next 50 seconds 4-on-4.

The Devils return to the power play.

K’Andre Miller was called into the corner for a high-stick penalty that smacked Timo Meier in the face, and New Jersey gets a man-advantage opportunity with 12 minutes remaining in the second half.

Akira Schmid’s glove punch mirrored his stop by Mika Zibanejad in the first period.

Alexis Lafrenière ran towards the Devils net after Rangers gained possession and had an open window to send a shot towards the net. But Schmid grabbed the puck with about 17:40 left and kept Game 7 scoreless.

The Devils dominated possession early on and arguably had the better scoring chances, including an outburst from Jack Hughes. Rangers failed to convert three power play opportunities and are now 1:17 since Game 2.

But Igor Shesterkin and Akira Schmid – goalkeepers who played 7 in their third and first games respectively – helped keep the game goalless. Shesterkin finished the first frame with eight saves while Schmid parried the six Rangers shots.

If the Devils could come up with their preferred scenario for a breakaway, it probably would have been the one that materialized in the first half with about four minutes remaining.

Jack Hughes, waiting near the gang, collected a pass after a Rangers turnover and ran towards Igor Shesterkin all by himself. He tried to move to the right post but Shesterkin went after the Devils star and managed to snag a piece of the puck as it trickled to the other side.

Just prior to that opportunity, Rangers failed to convert a third power play opportunity – this time a game delay from Kevin Bahl when he sent the puck over the glass.

At the end of Damon Severson’s penalty, Game 7 was still scoreless.

But this time Rangers challenged Akira Schmid with shots, generating four in total and sending three into the net – Ryan Graves blocked the other. Vladimir Tarasenko sent in a shot from the top of the zone that seemed to deflect wide and then Mika Zibanejad had a chance that required a glove save from Schmid.

For the second time in the first 12 minutes, Tyler Motte drew a trip penalty.

This time Damon Severson attempted to clear the puck out of the Devils’ zone with both Motte and Vesey trying to maintain possession and ended up tripping Motte.

Rangers’ final penalty only lasted about 30 seconds.

The Devils dominated the Rangers up to the first 9:10 of Game 7.

With shots on goal, they led 6:1. The shot attempt margin was even worse. New Jersey forced the blueshirts into long shifts and stints in their defensive zone, resulting in two early, highly dangerous scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.

It was the opposite of what a power play should have looked like.

Instead, Nico Hischier drove down the boards and created a short-handed scoring chance against Igor Shesterkin, and Hischier pulled a holding penalty on Adam Fox. The Rangers and Devils will now have 4-on-4 hockey, with New Jersey getting a brief power play afterwards.

Tyler Motte wasn’t long on the ice before he took a penalty.

Nathan Bastian was called on to bring down Motte, giving Rangers a power play opportunity after less than three minutes.