Devils' 5-3 Loss to Rangers: Familiar Problems

As has been the case with many of the New Jersey Devils' losses this season, familiar problems plagued them in a 5-3 defeat to the New York Rangers

The New Jersey Devils played a solid game on Thursday in a 5-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins but failed to follow it up in a 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers. It wasn't a bad performance from the Devils, but poor goaltending and some questionable defense plagued them again. Here are three takeaways from the loss. 

Devils Need Better Goaltending 

Vitek Vanecek played well in Pittsburgh, stopping 24/26 shots and saving 0.92 goals above expected. Unfortunately, he didn't follow it up in the 5-3 loss to the Rangers. 

Vanecek had some good moments. He was terrific in the second period and made plenty of crucial stops to keep the game at 2-2 heading into the second intermission. But as has been the case with him to start this season, he gave up a couple of back-breaking goals. 

What hurt Vanecek the most last night was his rebound control. On the Rangers' second goal of the game, he coughed up a rebound and gave Jimmy Vesey an easy opportunity for a goal, which he cashed in. 

Later in the game, Vanecek gave up an awful rebound on a shot from Tyler Pitlick, leaving the net wide open for Vesey to score his second goal and the eventual game-winner late in the third period. 

Sure, John Marino should've tied up Vesey on the game-winning goal. But that never should've been a talking point because Vanecek should not be giving up rebounds like that. That can't happen in that moment.  

Vanecek finished the night giving up 1.04 goals above expected, but he shouldn't have allowed the second and fourth goals. His save percentage now sits at .889 for the season, and he's given up 5.45 goals above expected. 

You can argue the Devils' defense needs to be better. It does for sure, but the team's goaltending is making their defense look worse than it is. Vanecek or Akira Schmid needs to step up because this kind of goaltending will limit the Devils' ceiling this season. 

Jack Hughes Didn't Miss a Beat