Rangers vs. Devils: 3 things to watch for in preseason game

The New York Rangers will look to stay perfect in the preseason when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Monday night in the fourth of their six preseason games.

The Rangers are a perfect 3-0-0, defeating the Boston Bruins 3-2 and 5-2, and the New York Islanders 6-4, a game that saw them erase deficits of 3-0 and 4-1.

The Devils were busy during the offseason adding veterans like goaltender Jacob Markstrom and defenseman Brett Pesce, as well as hiring Sheldon Keefe as their new coach.

However, don’t expect to see New Jersey’s big names suit up at Prudential Center or in the rematch Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. All of their NHL-level talent is in Europe for the 2024-25 NHL Global Series; the Devils face the Buffalo Sabres on Friday and Saturday in Prague. The Rangers are likely to match the Devils in terms of roster strength, meaning we will get a good look at prospects and a few key players battling for final roster spots.

For New Jersey, expect a roster of hungry players and prospects who are also looking to make an impression for down the road. The Devils are 0-4-0 in the preseason, with two losses to the Islanders and one each to the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens. NHL starters or not, they’ll be hungry for a win.

Related: New York Rangers training camp: What we’ve learned halfway through preseason

3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Devils in preseason matchup

Here are three things to watch for on Monday night.

1. Evaluation process for Rangers continues against weak Devils lineup

While it would be great to get an early taste of how the Rangers will stack up against the Devils this season, that won’t be the case in either of the preseason games against New Jersey. However, there is still plenty to gain for the Rangers, despite facing essentially an AHL lineup.

“We’re still in an evaluation process, no matter which players we choose to play,” Peter Laviolette said Sunday . “It’s still training camp, and it’s still a chance to evaluate. We’ll use it for exactly what it is, what it’s been in the first three games, and what it’ll remain in the last three games. It’ll be different, for sure, because their team has gone overseas.”

Though he’s likely to deploy a similar lineup that is lacking many NHL regulars, it’s still business as usual for Laviolette. In fact, it seems as though he will use this as a chance to take an extended look at players who are really pushing for a spot on the roster, including forwards Brennan Othmann, Adam Edstrom and Brett Berard, as well as defensemen Victor Mancini and Connor Mackey. The first three could be helped by the absence of fourth-line regular Jimmy Vesey; Laviolette said the 31-year-old will “miss a few weeks” with a lower-body injury sustained at practice Sunday.

2. Victor Mancini will have big chance to impress

If there was ever a time for a player like Mancini to build on an already impressive preseason, that time is now. The 22-year-old has opened eyes in camp and impressed in his two preseason contests. After scoring a goal and an assist in his preseason debut and playing well in his second game, Mancini has quickly inserted himself into the conversation for the sixth or seventh spot on the Rangers blue line.

With Ryan Lindgren out for at least a few weeks with an upper-body injury, Mancini has an even greater chance of cracking the lineup if he can keep up this level of play. The right-handed shot says he has no problem switching over to the left side — perhaps even into Lindgren’s spot with Adam Fox on the first pair. He’ll have a great opportunity to show what he can do on Monday night.

While Mancini won’t be facing much NHL-level talent, he’ll be eager to make another good impression on Laviolette and the rest of the Rangers brass. Expect him to play first-pair minutes against New Jersey — and to have another big game.

3. Othmann, Edstrom, Berard battling for roster spot

While it is possible that all three of these players start the season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers affiliate in the American Hockey League, Othmann, Edstrom, and Berard will get the spotlight against the Devils to prove themselves worthy of a roster spot with the Rangers. With few if any NHL regulars in either lineup, these three players should not only log big minutes but have the opportunity to stand out. If they are truly NHL-ready, they should dominate against a team made up of prospects and minor-leaguers.

Othmann finally found the score sheet with a goal and an assist against the Bruins in New York’s 5-2 preseason win last Thursday, while Edstrom has two goals and an assist in his two preseason showings, one being an empty-net goal against Boston. Berard has yet to register a point in the preseason.

Vesey’s absence opens another spot for one or more of these players.

While Edstrom is looking to earn a spot on the fourth line, things get a little more tricky for Othmann and Berard, who would be better-suited playing in the top nine — or playing big minutes down in Hartford.

“For young players, to be here the entire year and not play, probably is not a good thing,” Laviolette explained. “I think getting playing time and experience is probably more beneficial.”

If Othmann, Edstrom, or Berard are looking to stay with the big club this season, they’ll need a strong showing during the second half of training camp. A big game against New Jersey would be a great way to start.

Rangers vs. Devils preseason game: When, where, what time, how to watch

Who: New York Rangers vs New Jersey Devils

Where: Prudential Center

When: Monday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. ET

How to Watch: MSG Network

Click here for New York Rangers complete 2024-25 schedule and game results

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• Rangers defeat Devils 5-4, but lose Artemi Panarin to lower-body injury
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