3 fiery Rangers-Devils tilts headlined by 6’6, 225-lb Jackson Van De Leest battering Bo Groulx. (Image Source: Imagn).
Even though it was just a preseason game, the rivalry between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils was in full swing on Tuesday at MSG. The contest was filled with excitement and highlighted several fights and heated exchanges between the players.
One of the standout moments came when Blueshirts Sam Carrick and Devils’ Mike Hardman dropped gloves and engaged in a fierce battle, igniting the crowd. Not long after, Connor Mackey and Nathan Legare also got into it, trading punches and showing just how intense the rivalry can get.
WE GOT MORE FISTICUFFS AT MSG 😳 pic.twitter.com/Yk3EMAWPbf
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 1, 2024
ANOTHA ONE 🥊 pic.twitter.com/8lthfDZUt7
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 2, 2024
However, the main event of the matchup was the altercation between the Devils’ 6-foot-6, 225-lb defenseman Jackson Van De Leest and the Rangers’ 6-foot-2, 202-lb center Bo Groulx. Van De Leet quickly took advantage of his size, getting a grip on Groulx with a headlock and delivering a series of uppercuts.
Watce video here:
Classic Rangers/Devils hockey 🥊 pic.twitter.com/gwMpAiz74p
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 1, 2024
In the aftermath of the altercations, Van De Leest, Hardman, and Legare were all assessed a five-minute major penalty for fighting. On the other side, Groulx, Carrick, and Mackey also received five-minute major penalties for their involvement in the fights.
Rangers take down Devils but lose Artemi Panarin due to injury
Despite just being a preseason game, the matchup between the Rangers and Devils had everything you’d expect from their classic rivalry fights: high intensity and plenty of excitement.
The Blueshirts ultimately triumphed, edging out the Devils with a close 5-4 victory. Bo Groulx, Zac Jones, and Brennan Othmann each shone brightly, contributing two points apiece, helping secure the win for the home side.
On the other hand, Kevin Labanc was the standout for New Jersey, racking up three points, while Jakub Zboril added two points to his performance. However, the game wasn’t without setbacks for the Rangers.
Forward Artemi Panarin left the game due to a lower-body injury. The injury has been a concern for Panarin throughout training camp, and it appears he has aggravated it.
UPDATE: Artemi Panarin (lower body) will not return tonight.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) October 2, 2024
As a result, he is now considered doubtful for the upcoming preseason final against the New York Islanders on Friday, which could pose a challenge for the Rangers as they look to finalize their roster ahead of the regular season.
