It took three games, but the Rangers finally got their first win of the preseason. Another largely AHL roster showed great character to fight back from 2-0 down at the start of the third. Joonas Korpisalo then stopped all three shots he faced in the shootout after Will Cuylle had scored on the Rangers second attempt to complete the comeback.

A solid effort for a team that featured only one of the projected top six forwards, and a defense corps that was light on starters. Cuylle, Tye Kartye and Joe Veleno all saw their first preseason action, with Cuylle probably one of the better forwards on the ice for the Rangers.

Korpisalo also got his first action of the preseason, looking relatively effective except for a late third period goal that went five-hole to tie it at 3-3, sending the game into OT.

STANDOUTS

There were few individual standouts for the home team, though collectively they kept coming at an equally depleted Devils line-up. The team collectively threw 52 shots towards the Devils net, with 23 of those getting through to netminder Nico Daws.

Scott Morrow had a solid game offensively, including seven shot attempts – 3 on net, and a goal that deflected in off of a Devils defender as he looked to feed Cuylle on the back door. Morrow had made a nice move to drive to the net and looked confident with the puck when he had it.

Marc Del Gaizo had himself an active second period, including a shift where he hit three consecutive Devils and drew a power play. The smaller Del Gaizo grew up as a Rangers fan, though his chances of playing for the organization remain relatively low at this stage with all of those in front of him. For last night’s game he played the right side, a position that he could well see time on in Hartford.

KORPISALO REMAINS FAVORITE FOR BACKUP

Earlier this week, Mollie Walker of the New York Post mentioned on her podcast Up In The Blueseats that the word from Hartford was that Garand was prone to giving up a soft goal here and there. It probably goes some way to explaining the Rangers view of him, although it feels maybe a bit overstated.

Especially when Korpisalo is prone to do the same thing as we saw last night. The goal that tied the game late went five-hole on Korpisalo even though the netminder appeared to have tracked the play and was square to the shooter. It was a good chance for the Devils who managed to find the open space, but the shot appeared relatively easy given that it slid along the ice and was not particularly hard.

Still, it appears that Korpisalo remains the favorite to keep the backup spot, though Garand maybe hangs around a bit longer as a third netminder.

SMITS QUIET AS ROSTER TAKES SHAPE

It feels like the Rangers are going to keep Alberts Smits in the roster to start the season. His game last night was nowhere near as noticeable as Tuesday’s game, but he was steady. He and Morrow were on for both the first – a power play goal, and the second, but Smits was not at fault on either of them. He did end up being on the ice for two of the Rangers three goals, though Morrow was more involved offensively.

With Smits likely staying, then Matthew Robertson appears to be the seventh defender. There’s also a chance that Morrow sticks around as the eighth blueliner given that he’s waiver eligible and has a good chance of being claimed by another team as a right hander with offensive upside.

IS REMPE GOING TO START?

Roster machinations and Matt Rempe’s solid – if unspectacular – start to the preseason seem to suggest that he might be the one sticking around, with the waiver exempt Jaroslav Chmelar heading down. Chmelar seems to have played well enough to earn the spot, but with Drury facing some tough waiver choices, it looks like he might be a victim because of his current status.

Projected fourth line center Joe Veleno didn’t stand out much, though he did have a good chance in front after Matt Rempe tripped a Devils defender and found him alone in front of the net. Veleno couldn’t figure out how to beat Daws however, and did not have much impact on the game either way.

ROOKIE MAY HAVE CAUGHT THE EYE TOO

Liam Greentree had his third game for the Rangers, and his continued use suggests that he’s already caught the attention of the Rangers coaching staff. Last night was probably his least effective game, and he still projects to be starting the season in Hartford along with Cole Beaudoin. Beaudoin played his second straight game but will likely start in Hartford barring an injury in the preseason finale.

CUTS AND MORE CUTS

Yesterday the Rangers reassigned five players to Hartford: Callum Tung, Spencer Martin, Dylan Roobroeck, Jason Battaglia and Brody Lamb. That brings the camp roster down to 38 including three injured players: Vincent Iorio, Adam Sykora and Aidan Thompson. They need to get down to 23, though they can of course carry more on LTIR or IR if they choose.

Sykora having gotten injured in training camp, will remain with the team. If Iorio remains unable to practice/play, he also will remain. Because Thompson was hurt before training camp, the Rangers will likely be able to reassign him.

With Sykora likely going on LTIR, that would mean the Rangers will need to make an additional 14 cuts, or fewer if they keep either of Thompson or Iorio around.