3 Takeaways From Devils’ 3-2 Preseason Victory Over Rangers

On Monday evening, the New Jersey Devils wrapped up the second half of a back-to-back, hosting the New York Rangers for their second preseason game at Prudential Center. This time around, the club went with a lineup one step closer to their full NHL roster, following their 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Sunday.

After a hard-fought 60-minute battle with their Hudson River rivals, the Devils came away with a 3-2 win, earning their second consecutive preseason win.

Meier-Hischier-Evangelista Shines

After an offseason filled with anticipation, fans finally got their first glimpses of the Devils’ revamped top six, namely Anthony Mantha and Luke Evangelista. As anticipated, Mantha slotted in on the top line with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, while Evangelista made his debut alongside Nico Hischier and Timo Meier.

From the moment the puck dropped, the first and second lines certainly came to make a statement. Though it was a quiet first period, the Devils outshot the Rangers 10-3, with the top lines showing fantastic chemistry early on. 

Earth, Wind, and Fire. pic.twitter.com/3IYBj8WJf7

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) September 22, 2026

It was the Meier-Hischier-Evangelista line that finally broke the seal in the middle of the second period. The Devils’ captain made it a 1-0 game with his first preseason goal, catching the rebound off Meier’s pass on his backhand. 

Unfortunately, it did not take long for the Rangers to even the score at one, but the Devils were quick to retaliate. Meier took advantage of a loose puck, sending it into the corner of the net to give the home team a 2-1 lead.

Meier-Hischier-Evangelista in particular generated a number of prime scoring chances throughout the game. In 13:16 of 5-on-5 ice time, they recorded 13 shot attempts, five high-danger scoring chances, and seven shots, per Natural Stat Trick.

Brett Pesce Is Back!

Last night marked Brett Pesce’s first NHL game since early March, following a sprained MCL that sidelined him for the remainder of 2025-26. Now that the veteran defenseman is fully healthy, he’s expected to be a crucial component of the Devils’ blue line. Fans gave him a warm welcome back, and he immediately made his presence known.

Pesce didn’t miss a beat in his return, playing fast and furious paired with Luke Hughes. He started with an early drive on Rangers goalie Dylan Garand, but he wasn’t afraid to throw his weight around, either. With a few minutes left in the first, he even threw a few jabs at Matt Rempe behind the Devils’ net.

His tenacity continued throughout the entire game, racing up the ice and battling for the puck. From zone entries to tape-to-tape passes to puck retrieval, Pesce was a dominant force on the Devils’ blue line. He was also an important part of the penalty kill in the third period, helping keep the Rangers’ power play at bay.

Likewise, Pesce earned an assist on Hughes’s go-ahead goal at the end of the third period, propelling the Devils to a 3-2 victory. He ended the night being on the ice for two goals, 12 shots, and four high-danger scoring chances.

First Look at Allen/Daws Tandem

The Devils opted to utilize their 1A/1B tandem, with Jake Allen in net for the first 20 minutes, followed by Nico Daws for periods two and three. Heading into 2026-27, this is the expected goalie rotation, with David Rittich slotting in as needed.

Allen looked sharp throughout the first period, stopping all three shots that he faced. He stayed calm and collected in net, providing the exact sort of steady levelheadedness that the Devils will need between the pipes this season.

Things weren’t quite as simple for Daws, who faced a total of 15 shots across 40 minutes, ending the night with an .867 save percentage (SV%). Though he had a 3.00 goals-against average (GAA), there were still plenty of things to commend him for.

For starters, Daws stopped both high-danger shots on goal that came his way, along with four out of five medium-danger shots. Likewise, he appeared to need a minimal adjustment period, despite only appearing in three NHL games last season. Overall, fans should be excited to see what he can bring in net this season, as he seeks to secure a full-time NHL role for the first time in his career.

The Devils will be back in action on Thursday night, facing the Rangers again on the road at Madison Square Garden at 7:00 PM ET.