NEWARK, N.J. — During the final two months, anticipation grew for hockey followers on the New York and New Jersey sides of the Hudson River forward of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The first-round sequence between the Rangers and Devils that’s been on the horizon is now a actuality. The best-of-seven river rivalry will get underway on Tuesday on the Prudential Center. If it’s something like most of their different six postseason matchups, it is going to be a pleasure to observe.
Two within the sequence have gone to a seventh recreation, with probably the most memorable being the 1994 Eastern Conference closing determined in double extra time on a wraparound objective by New York’s Stephane Matteau.
While the Rangers have a 4-2 document within the sequence, the Devils gained the final one, beating the Rangers in six video games within the 2012 convention closing on a objective in extra time by Adam Henrique. New Jersey was then denied a fourth Stanley Cup by the Los Angeles Kings.
“At the end of the day, it’s hockey,” Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton stated. “It’s what we do and what we love. Everyone is going to go out there and do their best.”
The groups performed 4 instances within the common season with the Devils successful three in regulation and the Rangers as soon as in extra time. Rangers coach Gerard Gallant stated the groups are comparable.
“Who executes the best, who defends the best, and manages the puck best is probably going to win,” he stated.
The Devils completed the season with franchise information of 112 factors and 52 wins in inserting second within the Metropolitan Division. They had 63 factors final season. The Rangers completed third within the division with 107 factors.
SHOWCASING JACK
If you haven’t seen a lot of 21-year-old Jack Hughes, he’s among the many finest passers within the league.
The No. 1 total decide within the 2019 draft is making his playoff debut throughout a breakout season with the Devils. Hughes discovered his goal-scoring contact with 43 targets and a franchise-record 99 factors.
What makes Hughes stand out is his skating skill. He’s quick, can change instructions in a break up second and barely loses management of the puck.
The Rangers must sluggish him down, if they’ll catch him.
IGOR VS. VITEK
The sequence will match Igor Shesterkin of the Rangers in opposition to Vitek Vanecek of the Devils.
Shesterkin overcame a sluggish begin this season and enters the postseason trying just like the 2021-22 Vezina Trophy winner and the man who led New York to the convention closing a 12 months in the past. He posted a 37-13-8 document with a 2.48 goals-against common and .916 save proportion.
Acquired from Washington for picks in final 12 months’s draft, Vanecek had a profession 12 months, posting a 33-11-4 mark with a 2.45 GAA and a .911 save proportion. Devils coach Lindy Ruff is just not involved about his three profession postseason begins, saying the goalie has confirmed himself all 12 months.
EXPERIENCE VS. YOUTH
The Rangers have extra playoff expertise. It’s their third journey to the postseason within the final 4 years, though 2020 was a qualifying-round loss in the course of the pandemic. New Jersey is again for the primary time since 2018 and solely the second since enjoying within the 2012 Stanley Cup Final.
Hughes and the Devils’ different prime gamers – Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Dawson Mercer and Timo Meier – are all 26 or youthful.
Rangers stars Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko and Artemi Panarin all can be 30 when the puck drops for the opening faceoff.
KEYS
The Devils are quick, reside off the push and have an underrated protection. They are far much less snug biking the puck within the offensive zone.
If the Rangers are going to win, they must decelerate New Jersey and positively keep away from the turnovers that gasoline the push.
New York has the dimensions and power to cycle within the Devils’ zone. Whether that bodily play can decelerate New Jersey stays to be seen.
X FACTORS
In their run to the convention closing a 12 months in the past, the Rangers’ “Kid Line” of Filip Chytil centering Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko was a giant raise. New York hopes buying Kane and Tarasenko on the commerce deadline yields dividends.
Likewise, the Devils hope the late acquisition of Meier proves helpful in addition to the offseason signing of Ondrej Palat, who was huge within the Tampa Bay’s latest success. Mercer shocked within the closing months, and it stays to be seen whether or not defenseman Luke Hughes, Jack’s brother, will play. He signed after the school season at Michigan and has two appearances in NHL regular-season video games.
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