Haula scores twice as Devils take series lead over Rangers

*Photo from Yahoo Sports*

New Jersey leads series 3-2

   What a turnaround this series has been. Dawson Mercer had a goal and an assist, Erik Haula had two goals and an assist, and the New Jersey Devils beat the New York Rangers 4-0 on Thursday night in Newark.

   After losing the first two games of the series, the Devils took control after that, winning the next 3 games to take a 3-2 series lead, just one win away from the second round. This time, it was Haula and Mercer that led the way for the Devils.

   Haula said of the team's progress that "We've grown as a team. Even during the playoff series, we've taken steps. A lot of credit to all the younger players of realizing what it takes to win and doing the right things."

   Starting the scoring for the Devils was Ondrej Palat, who gave the Devils a 1-0 lead with his second goal of the playoffs, coming unassisted just 39 seconds into the game. On the power play 3:27 into the second period, Haula doubled the Devils lead, making it a 2-0 game with assists from Mercer and Damon Severson.

   Later in the second, the Devils got on the board again. While shorthanded, Mercer scored for the Devils, making the lead 3-0 with the lone assist going to Haula. The only goal of the 3rd period went to Haula, scoring his second goal of the night to make the Devils lead 4-0, assisted by Nico Hischier and Ryan Graves.

   Hischier, the Devils captain, said of the win that "Tonight we did a lot of good things and that's exactly how we got to play. We knew if we use our speed, that's our strength. That's what makes us a dangerous team, if we play with our speed."

   Getting the start for the Devils for the 3rd straight game was Akira Schmid, who helped turn the tide of the series. Schmid posted a shutout in the win, stopping all of the 23 shots he saw from the Rangers on the night.

   It was Igor Shesterkin in net for the Rangers, getting tagged with the loss for the 3rd game in a row. Shesterkin turned aside 39 out of the 42 shots on goal he saw from the Devils, recording a .929 save percentage.

   Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said that "Jersey played one heck of a game; their best game of the series so far. We got some traffic, and I thought the goalie played really well for them. Shesterkin was excellent too, but I thought Schmid was really good."

   Up next, game 6 of the series is in New York City on Saturday night. The Devils will look to eliminate the Rangers and move to the second round, while the Rangers need to win to keep their season alive.