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The first round of the NHL playoffs has begun, and one of the most highly anticipated matchups is the Rangers versus the Devils.
The Rangers and the Devils have a long-standing rivalry that spans decades. They are both located in the New York metropolitan area, and their games are always packed with emotion, intensity, and physicality.
This year, the Rangers and the Devils had very different seasons. The Rangers finished fourth in the East Division with a 27-23-6 record, while the Devils finished last in the division with a 19-30-7 record. However, records don’t always matter when it comes to the playoffs.
The Rangers have an advantage in this series because they have one of the best goalies in the league, Igor Shesterkin. Shesterkin has a .916 save percentage and a 2.62 goals against average this season. Shesterkin missed some time due to injury, but he is back and ready to go for the playoffs.
The Devils, on the other hand, are without their starting goalie, Mackenzie Blackwood, who is out with a lower-body injury. The Devils will have to rely on backup goalie Scott Wedgewood, who has a .903 save percentage and a 3.11 goals against average this season.
One of the keys to success for the Rangers in this series will be their ability to shut down the Devils’ top line of Pavel Zacha, Jesper Bratt, and Yegor Sharangovich. This line has been the Devils’ best all season, and they will need to step up in the playoffs. The Rangers have a solid defense, led by Adam Fox, who is a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman.
Offensively, the Rangers will need their top line to produce. Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Chris Kreider have been the best line for the Rangers this season, and they will need to continue their strong play in the playoffs. The Rangers also have depth scoring, with players like Ryan Strome, Pavel Buchnevich, and Alexis Lafreniere capable of contributing.
For the Devils, their offense will need to step up. Jack Hughes, the first overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, had a solid season with 11 goals and 20 assists in 56 games. He will need to continue his strong play in the playoffs. The Devils also have veteran Travis Zajac, who has been a playoff performer in the past.
The Rangers and the Devils have met four times in the playoffs, with the Rangers winning three of those series. Their last meeting was in 2012, when the Devils advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Rangers and the Devils have a history of intense playoff matchups. The games are physical, aggressive, and full of emotion. This series is expected to be no different.
In the end, it will come down to which team can execute their game plan and capitalize on their opportunities. The Rangers have the advantage in goal and on defense, while the Devils will need their offense to step up.
This series has the potential to be a classic, as the Rangers and the Devils battle it out in the first round of the NHL playoffs.
Get ready for some intense playoff hockey, as the Rangers and the Devils take the ice.
