(NEWARK) Eric Hula scored two goals and an assist as the New Jersey Devils beat the New York Rangers 4-0 on Thursday to take a 3-2 lead in the series.
Akira Schmid stopped 23 shots, with 13 of them in the middle of the period.
He only had to make two puck saves in the third period en route to his first career playoff game.
“The guys did an exceptional job in front of me,” said Schmid. They have reduced my workload a lot. »
Dawson-Mercer had a goal and an assist, while the other scorer was Ondrej Balat.
“We did a lot of things well and that’s what you have to do,” Devils captain Nico Hischer said. We knew we had to use our speed well. It makes us a dangerous team. »
The Devils, who are unbeaten in three games, will have a chance to eliminate the Rangers on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
Schmid blocked 80 of 82 shots in the series. In the first two games, Vitek Vanicek was hit nine times on 52 shots.
Igor Shesterkin made 39 saves for the Rangers, who outscored him 9-2 in three games. The first two matches ended 5-1 in their favour.
“We weren’t good enough,” said Rangers coach Gerard Gallant. You also have to give credit to the demons. They played their best game in the series. »
Rangers’ Vincent Troshek hit the post with 6:25 left in the third period.
Hola completed the scoring into an empty net, with a time of 5:12 a minute.
He had scored the second goal of the game early in the second half, on Mercer’s shot rebound. The net was scored near the end of the penalty imposed on Patrick Keane.
Mercer hit the mark midway through the second period, shorthand. It was his first goal in a playoff game.
With just under two minutes left to play in the middle of the period, Capo Kaku was unable to capitalize on a blunder by Schmid, who missed his attempted clearance.
Balat scored 39 seconds into the opening encounter, with a shot that hit the stick of Rangers defender Adam Fox. bales scored 50H The playoff goal.
“This goal gave a huge boost to the whole team,” said Mercer.
“Evil thinker. Music scholar. Hipster-friendly communicator. Bacon geek. Amateur internet enthusiast. Introvert.”