The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils will write one other chapter within the historical past of the Hudson River Rivalry when the puck drops on Game 1 of their first spherical collection tonight. Thus far, these two franchises have supplied many memorable moments all through six earlier postseason battles.
The Rangers and Devils first met each other within the playoffs in 1992, and the Rangers received the primary three postseason conferences between these two rivals. However, the Devils have received two of the final three best-of-seven collection.
Despite all that success on the a part of New York, New Jersey has missed its share of alternatives. The Devils have held a lead in 5 of the six collection between the 2 franchises, and three of the collection have gone at the very least six video games. Let’s hope we get extra of that this 12 months.
Before the Rangers and Devils go head-to-head tonight, look again on the historical past between these two bitter rivals within the postseason.
1992 | Rangers def. Devils (4-3) in first spherical
In the primary playoff assembly between these groups, the Devils jumped out to a 2-1 collection lead, however the Rangers took management from there. In a pivotal Game 5, Mike Gartner scored a hat trick for the Rangers, and he completed the collection with six objectives.
New Jersey answered again with a giant win in Game 6, however the Rangers jumped out to an enormous lead in Game 7 and received comfortably, 8-4.
Mark Messier was the collection’ main scorer with 11 factors, and he and defenseman Brian Leetch mixed for 19 factors. Those two powered the Rangers previous their rivals regardless of lackluster goaltending from Mike Richter and John Vanbiesbrouck.
Peter Stastny and Claude Lemieux led the Devils, however they could not overcome a poor effort from Chris Terreri in web. New Jersey did strive a distinct possibility in web, a younger child by the identify of Martin Brodeur, however he allowed three objectives on fifteen photographs. Hopefully the remainder of his profession labored out.
After successful an exciting collection towards the Devils, the Rangers misplaced to the eventual champion Pittsburgh Penguins within the second spherical.
1994 | Rangers def. Devils (4-3) in Eastern Conference last
This collection was an absolute traditional. Not solely did it go the space, however three video games have been determined in double additional time, together with Game 7.
The collection began with a kind of double additional time thrillers, and Stéphane Richer performed the position of hero for the Devils. That gave New Jersey a 1-0 lead, nevertheless it went back-and-forth the remainder of the best way.
In Game 3, Stéphane Matteau scored in double additional time to offer the Rangers a 2-1 lead within the collection, and that wasn’t even his most clutch purpose within the collection. When Game 7 went to double additional time, Matteau got here by once more to ship the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Final.
Yet once more, Messier led the Rangers with 11 factors within the collection. After struggling towards the Devils in 1992, Richter turned in an exceptional effort this time round. He stopped 92.3% of the photographs he noticed and turned in a Game 2 shutout.
As properly as Richter performed, Brodeur may need been even higher. His save proportion was a glowing 93.4%, however he acquired little or no assist. Bernie Nicholls was the Devils’ main scorer with 5 factors.
This time, the Rangers completed the job after disposing of the Devils. In the subsequent spherical, they defeated the Vancouver Canucks in seven video games to win the Stanley Cup.
1997 | Rangers def. Devils (4-1) in second spherical
New Jersey truly took a 1-0 collection lead, nevertheless it was all New York after that. The Devils simply did not have sufficient firepower to unravel Richter, and the Rangers rode their scorching goaltending to a collection victory.
With New Jersey combating for its playoff life in Game 5, it was in a position to push the sport to additional time. However, Adam Graves extinguished the Devils’ hopes simply over 14 minutes into the additional body.
Richter stopped an unbelievable 97.8% of the photographs he confronted, and he shut out the Devils twice. He was distinctive, and a veteran participant by the identify of Wayne Gretzky led the Rangers in scoring with 5 factors.
As a results of Richter’s practically excellent efficiency in purpose, no Devils participant had greater than two factors within the collection. New Jersey wasted one other nice effort from Brodeur, whose save proportion was 93.7%, because the workforce did not generate sufficient offense.
In the Eastern Conference last, the Rangers misplaced to the Philadelphia Flyers in 5 video games.
2006 | Devils def. Rangers (4-0) in first spherical
Finally, the Devils have been in a position to break by towards their greatest rival, they usually did so in emphatic trend. Not solely did New Jersey sweep New York, nevertheless it by no means received a recreation by fewer than two objectives.
The Devils merely whooped the Rangers, they usually acquired ample offense on this matchup. Patrik Elias led the best way with 11 factors, however gamers like Jamie Langenbrunner and Brian Gionta additionally discovered success. Let’s not overlook Brodeur both. He earned one shutout and turned away 96.5% of the photographs towards him.
Exactly one Rangers participant, Blair Betts, had a number of factors within the collection. New York merely could not preserve tempo with New Jersey, however its goaltending tandem did not assist. Henrik Lundqvist struggled in his playoff debut, and Kevin Weekes did not present many key stops both.
After the excessive of sweeping the Rangers, the Devils faltered within the second spherical and misplaced to the Carolina Hurricanes in 5 video games.
2008 | Rangers def. Devils (4-1) in first spherical
This is the one playoff collection between these rivals by which the Devils didn’t maintain a collection lead. The Rangers went up 2-0 and by no means actually seemed again.
Jaromir Jagr and Brandon Dubinsky have been key gamers for the Rangers on this collection, and Scott Gomez discovered some success towards his former workforce. This time round, Lundqvist was extraordinarily efficient in purpose, handing over a 91.7% save proportion.
The problem for New Jersey was that Brodeur was not his standard self. He stopped simply 89.1% of the photographs he confronted, and that triggered the Devils to drop a few video games that have been in any other case fairly winnable.
In the second spherical, the Penguins defeated the Rangers in six video games earlier than rolling to the Stanley Cup Final.
2012 | Devils def. Rangers (4-2) in Eastern Conference last
After just a few collection that did not ship as a lot drama, this one actually reignited the rivalry in a serious means. The Rangers took a 2-1 collection lead earlier than the Devils surged again for 3 straight wins, and the decisive Game 6 got here with some fireworks.
Lundqvist shut out the Devils twice within the first three video games, and it seemed like New Jersey would not be capable of create sufficient offense to win the collection. However, they discovered extra of a groove with Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk main the best way.
New Jersey picked up a giant street win in Game 5 to take a 3-2 collection lead, and it ended the collection in additional time of Game 6. Just over a minute into additional time, Adam Henrique shoveled residence a free puck behind Lundqvist.
One of the keys to New Jersey’s win on this collection was the truth that Brodeur merely outdueled Lundqvist. The Rangers’ netminder had the 2 shutouts and a 91.8% save proportion, however Brodeur denied 92.7% of New York’s photographs on purpose.
In the Stanley Cup Final, the Devils fell to the Los Angeles Kings, 4-2.
