Defenseman Tony DeAngelo scores a hat trick to power Rangers past Devils
Everyone always knew Tony DeAngelo had the skill to do some amazing things inside a hockey rink, but what he did against the Devils at the Garden on Thursday night might have been bigger than anything anyone had imagined possible.
The slick-skating 24-year-old became the first Rangers defenseman to score a hat trick in more than 37 years and also had two assists. He became the second defenseman in franchise history to record five points in a game. The other Rangers defenseman to accomplish that? Brian Leetch, who did it twice.
“He’s got a unique skill set,’’ coach David Quinn said after the Rangers’ 6-3 victory. “His vision’s uncanny, and he’s as good a passer as I’ve been around. He just had it all going tonight. There’s certain games when the puck finds its way in the back of the net and every play you make ends up being a goal. And he had that night tonight.’’
DeAngelo had the first hat trick by a Rangers defenseman since Reijo Ruotsalainen did it against the Philadelphia Flyers on St. Patrick’s Day in 1982.
“I never had a hat trick before, even in juniors,’’ DeAngelo said.
After reporting late to training camp following a brief holdout as he tried to negotiate a new contract as a free agent, DeAngelo has had a fine season for the Rangers, recording 11 goals and 36 points in 43 games. The goals and points are career highs. The 25 assists are one shy of his career high, set last season.
His performance helped deliver a second straight win for goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who started his second straight game since being called up from AHL Hartford on Monday. Shesterkin made 46 saves as the Rangers were outshot 49-37.
DeAngelo started his big night early, sending a feed from behind the Devils’ net to Artemi Panarin (goal, two assists), who one-timed it in past MacKenzie Blackwood to put the Rangers ahead at 5:42 of the first period.
The Devils tied it on a shorthanded goal by Kevin Rooney, who beat DeAngelo to a rebound and jammed it in under Shesterkin for his first goal of the season at 8:06. But seven seconds after that power play expired, DeAngelo scored his first goal of the night, converting a one-timer off a pass from Mika Zibanejad that seemed to float through traffic and over Blackwood into the upper right corner to make it 2-1 at 9:47.
DeAngelo then set up a power-play goal by Chris Kreider at 12:16 of the period. He fired a slap pass from deep in his own end past Brett Howden at center ice and off the end boards in the Devils’ end. Kreider beat everyone to the puck, went to his backhand and scored his 14th goal.
But the Devils tied it at 3-3 on two goals by Blake Coleman. He deflected in a shot by Damon Severson at 18:10 of the first period. Then, at 8:56 of the second, Coleman got credit for his 15th goal when Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba, who pushed Coleman into the net and dislodged it from its supports, inadvertently kicked the puck past Shesterkin and in. Officials reviewed the play during a commercial break and determined it was a goal.
But DeAngelo scored the next two goals to put the Rangers in control and chase Blackwood from the net in favor of Louis Domingue. Jesper Fast’s third-period goal made it 6-3.
“He’s making spin-a-ramas; he’s beating guys below the goal line; he’s confident with the puck,’’ said Ryan Strome, who had two assists. “Whenever the puck’s on his stick, his head’s up. He knows the puck’s there, he knows that he can make a play, and he’s just looking for the right play.’’
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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