Garand's Rangers Debut Ends in Blowout Loss to Devils
Rookie goaltender pulled after allowing four goals as New York suffers a lopsided defeat in the first "Battle of the Hudson."
The early promise of Dylan Garand's stint as the New York Rangers' starting goaltender came to a jarring halt Thursday night with a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of the New Jersey Devils. In the first "Battle of the Hudson" matchup of the season, the Rangers delivered their first significant dud, characterized by "Rangers suck" chants from the Prudential Center crowd and a premature end to Garand's night.
Garand was pulled just 5:09 into the second period after surrendering four goals on 14 shots. The Devils scored twice in a span of 31 seconds to extend their lead to 4-0, ending Garand's outing. This marked the first time in his NHL career that Garand allowed more than two goals in a game. He entered the contest with a 1.15 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage in the 2026-27 season, which included a shutout and two subsequent wins following the injury to regular starter Igor Shesterkin.
The Rangers' offense struggled throughout the game, managing only 19 shots and generating few scoring chances in the final 40 minutes. Pavel Dorofeyev scored the lone goal for New York on the power play, but by then, the team was facing an insurmountable 6-0 deficit.
The Devils' scoring was distributed among several players. Luke Hughes netted two goals, while Evan Rodrigues, Nico Hischier, Arseny Gritsyuk, Stefan Noesen, and Cody Glass each contributed one. Jack Hughes, who has historically troubled the Rangers, was not a primary tormentor in this game, entering with 35 points in 26 career matchups against New York.
The game unraveled quickly for the Rangers. Rodrigues opened the scoring with 29.6 seconds left in the first period after a Rangers turnover. Early in the second, Luke Hughes deflected a shot that ricocheted past Garand. Meier then scored off a rebound before Gritsyuk added another goal.
Despite a strong start in the first period where the Rangers had more scoring chances and high-danger opportunities, their structured play faltered in the latter two periods. The Devils controlled possession and exploited defensive breakdowns, creating numerous open chances. The frustration boiled over late in the third period when Alexis Lafrenière received a game misconduct for an interaction with an official.
This loss serves as a stark reminder of the team's reliance on Shesterkin, who is expected to be sidelined for six months. Garand, despite his potential, has limited NHL experience with only eight career appearances, facing the considerable task of filling Shesterkin's skates. The defeat also halts the Rangers' positive momentum from recent wins at home and against the Islanders.