The New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils have been fierce rivals in the National Hockey League (NHL) for decades. Their playoff matchups have been some of the most intense and memorable in NHL history. In this article, we will take a look at the history of Rangers vs. Devils in NHL playoffs and analyze the current tie at 2-2 between these two rivals.
The first time the Rangers and Devils met in the playoffs was in 1992. The Devils won that series in seven games, but the Rangers would get their revenge the following year when they defeated the Devils in five games on their way to winning the Stanley Cup. The two teams would meet again in the playoffs in 1994, and this time it was the Rangers who came out on top in seven games, with Mark Messier leading the way with his famous guarantee of victory in Game 6.
The rivalry between these two teams continued to grow throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. They would meet in the playoffs four more times, with the Devils winning three of those series. The most memorable of these matchups was in 1997, when the Devils swept the Rangers in four games, including a triple-overtime thriller in Game 3.
In recent years, the rivalry between these two teams has cooled off a bit, as both teams have struggled to make the playoffs consistently. However, this year’s playoff matchup has reignited the flames of this historic rivalry.
The current tie at 2-2 between the Rangers and Devils has been a hard-fought battle. The Rangers won the first two games of the series at home, but the Devils bounced back with two wins of their own at home. The series is now tied heading into Game 5, which will be played at Madison Square Garden.
One of the key factors in this series has been the play of the two goaltenders. Henrik Lundqvist has been outstanding for the Rangers, while Cory Schneider has been equally impressive for the Devils. Both goalies have made some incredible saves and have kept their teams in games when they were being outplayed.
Another factor in this series has been the physical play. Both teams have been throwing their weight around and trying to intimidate their opponents. This has led to some big hits and a few fights, which have only added to the intensity of this rivalry.
As we head into Game 5, it’s anyone’s series to win. The Rangers will have the home-ice advantage, but the Devils have shown that they can win on the road. It will come down to which team can execute their game plan better and which players can step up in the clutch moments.
No matter what happens in this series, one thing is for sure: the rivalry between the Rangers and Devils will continue to be one of the most intense and memorable in NHL history. These two teams have a long history of playoff battles, and this year’s matchup is just another chapter in that storied history.
