Can’t Handle Yandle: Keith Yandle celebrates a goal in the first with Chris Kreider and Matt Hunwick.
AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

Oh how the mighty have fallen. In this case, that would be the Devils who were badly beaten by the Rangers 6-1 at MSG. Once a proud franchise of three Stanley Cups, they’ll be in the lottery this year with their hopes pinned on the future.

The team with the NHL’s sixth worst record was no match for a first place Blueshirts chasing after the President’s Trophy. Their third straight win tied idle Anaheim for the league lead in points (107). Thirteen different players registered a point. Dominic Moore scored twice. Derek Stepan had a shorthanded goal and assist. Keith Yandle and Rick Nash each had a goal and assist. Ryan McDonagh had two assists. Henrik Lundqvist made 35 saves in winning his third straight.

Despite some early defensive lapses that forced Lundqvist into some key stops, the Rangers were on a different level than their Hudson rival. The combination of speed and skill did in the Devils. A three-goal first period chased Devil starter Cory Schneider. He allowed three goals on six shots before rookie Keith Kinkaid relieved him.

Nash opened the scoring when he steered home a Mats Zuccarello rebound batting it out of mid-air at 5:10. Yandle started the play in transition passing for Zuccarello whose shot Schneider mishandled allowing Nash to cash in his 42nd. He has three goals over his last five and is 2-2-4 in the last three- all wins. A great sign.

Yandle increased it to 2-0 when his right point shot eluded Schneider, who wasn’t set. Off a clean Stepan faceoff win, Chris Kreider won the puck back to Yandle, who fired a laser top shelf for his second goal as a Blueshirt. With the crowd still buzzing, the fourth line struck just 25 seconds later. Off a brilliant feed from Tanner Glass, Moore converted his eighth in front easily beating Schneider sending him to an early exit. Jesper Fast added the secondary helper.

There wasn’t much going on in the second. Zuccarello had a run in with Mike Cammalleri leading to matching minors. When they returned from the box, Cammalleri took a run at Zuccarello nearly injuring him. Fortunately, he was okay. The last thing the Rangers want is to see one of their most consistent forwards suffer an injury in a meaningless game.

I’d say for most of the second, they didn’t try. The Devils were harder on the puck and able to generate a few scoring chances. One of their best saw Lundqvist at his best making a sprawling save on a three-on-one set up by Adam Henrique. I have no idea how he saved it. With Lundqvist down, the Devils had a gaping net but McDonagh made a diving block to deny them. It’s that style that makes this team legit contenders. They compete so well at both ends never giving up.

The Devils did get a power play with under a minute left still down three. But instead of getting back into it, they allowed Stepan to get behind the D for a shorthanded goal with under three seconds left. Following a McDonagh defensive play, he made an outlet for Nash, who found his penalty killing partner at center for a clean breakaway with seven seconds left. Stepan calmly took his time before using the same exact move he did on 12/27 with a deke and backhand tuck five-hole. Ironically, it came against the same opponent. Only this time Kinkaid fell victim.

After two, I talked to my Dad about how sad it was to see the Devils like this. It wasn’t even fun. Sure. Blowout wins are nice. But I prefer closely fought wins even against close rivals. It’s harder earned. Once, the roles were reversed and the Devils came into our barn and won these games with similar ease. It’s odd to see it come full circle. They’re a long way from competing. I can only ponder what Devil blogger Hasan feels watching this.

How bad are the Devils? Handed a two-man advantage in the first minute of the third, they got nothing accomplished. Devils legend Patrik Elias made a blind back pass to no one sending the puck out of the zone. Interestingly, there were some Devil fans who stuck it out around our section. One wearing a red Elias jersey. A good natured fan who had a nice back and forth with our fans. There were no fights between rival fans. Just fun laughs. That’s how it should be.

Off a Dan Girardi cross ice feed, McDonagh fired a laser that Moore somehow deflected home for his second of the night. He has quietly been coming on as the regular season nears conclusion. That gives the overlooked fourth line checking center three goals in the last two. Interesting that Moore now has more goals (9) and points (24) than he had last year playing with better personnel. It says a lot about his character. He’s an important player for the postseason. Though that line still worries me with Alain Vigneault’s loyalty to Glass over James Sheppard. Glass has played better but still.

After Derick Brassard squeaked one through Kinkaid for his third goal in the last four, we stayed until about the six-minute mark. Good thing because we missed the dancing idiot and Jacob Josefson breaking Lundqvist’s shutout.

This was just another win for a team whose ultimate goal doesn’t start until probably a week from this Thursday. They now are three points clear of Montreal with four left. The Rangers have the tiebreaker and also have a game at hand on the Habs and two on Tampa, who with a win tied Montreal in points (104). Columbus visits Tuesday. They keep on winning beating the Pens, who might fall into the wildcard. That should at least be a test.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Derek Stepan, NYR (shorthanded goal-14, assist, 5 SOG, 9-and-9 on faceoffs, +2 in 18:13)

2nd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (35 saves-King is finding his game)

1st Star-Dominic Moore, NYR (2 goals-8th, 9th, 11-and-6 on faceoffs, +1 in 12:13)