Devils–Rangers rivalry

New Jersey Devils–New York Rangers
History
1st Meeting October 5, 1982
Last Meeting October 21, 2014
Next Meeting December 27, 2014
Number of Meetings 219
Regular Season Series 101–84–27–6 (.539)
New York[1]
Largest Margin of Victory 9–1 New Jersey
(March 19, 2000)
Post Season History
Post Season Meetings 4–2 (Rangers)
1992 PDSF Rangers won, 4–3
1994 ECF Rangers won, 4–3
1997 ECSF Rangers won, 4–1
2006 ECQF Devils won, 4–0
2008 ECQF Rangers won, 4–1
2012 ECF Devils won, 4–2

The Devils–Rangers rivalry (also known as the Hudson River rivalry),[2] is a rivalry between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. The two teams are called "cross-river rivals."[2] This is because Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan, where the Rangers play, is less than ten miles and across the Hudson River from the Prudential Center in downtown Newark (and previously, the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford), the home ice of the Devils. Travel between both arenas is easily accomplished by both road (usually through the Lincoln Tunnel) and rail (along the Northeast Corridor and PATH).

The Devils and Rangers are two of the three teams that play in the New York City metropolitan area, the other being the New York Islanders. All three teams have fierce, bitter rivalries with each other, as well as with the other (now formerly) Atlantic Division teams, the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Early history

The rivalry began when the Colorado Rockies moved to New Jersey as the Devils. They had to pay massive indemnities to the Rangers, Islanders and Flyers for the right to share New Jersey.[3] For over 25 years, fans of both the Rangers and Devils have seen the best out of both their clubs whenever they meet. Despite the Devils' overall playoff superiority since the 1990s, the first three playoff series between these teams were all Rangers victories. Their first meeting occurred in the spring of 1992, when the Presidents' Trophy-winning Rangers survived a seven-game Patrick Division Semifinal series with the Devils.[4][5]

Stanley Cup championships of 1994 and 1995

The rivalry's most famous moments, however, are centered around the significance of the teams' meetings during the 1995–96 season.

1994: Rangers Win Stanley Cup

Although both teams were the top point-getters in the NHL during the Rangers' championship season of 1993–94 (the Presidents' Trophy-winning Rangers netting 112 and the Devils notching 106),[6] the story entering the Eastern Conference Finals was the Rangers' 6-0 record against New Jersey that regular season. In the final weeks of the regular season, the Devils were chasing the Rangers for the best record in the NHL. In response, the New York news media pushed Rangers Coach Mike Keenan to get the Rangers to win the Presidents' Trophy. He replied: "I want to play Game 7 of the Stanley Cup (Finals) in Madison Square Garden."[7] The Rangers reached the conference finals with relative ease by sweeping their crosstown rivals the New York Islanders and beating the Washington Capitals in five games. The Devils road was much harder as they needed all seven games to oust the Buffalo Sabres in the first round and needed six games to eliminate the Boston Bruins in the semifinals

However, all ideas of a quick New York series were soon ended after Game 1, a 4-3 double overtime victory that was sealed by the Devils' Stephane Richer.[8] The Rangers routed the Devils 4-0 in Game 2, and used a double overtime goal by Stephane Matteau to take a 2-1 lead after Game 3.[9] After being routed in Games 4 and 5, the Rangers faced elimination going to New Jersey for Game 6, with New Jersey attempting to make the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history.[10] Prior to the game, Rangers captain Mark Messier guaranteed a victory in Game 6 at the Meadowlands; with the Rangers down 2-0 to the Devils, Messier scored a hat trick to tie the series at 3-3 and send it back to New York for Game 7.[10] In Game 7, the Devils' Valeri Zelepukin tied the game with 7.7 seconds left in regulation,[6] but thanks to another Matteau goal in double overtime the Rangers won the series and went on to win the Stanley Cup over the Vancouver Canucks, also in seven games.[10] Interestingly, the first six games were won by the team that lost that respective game in 1992.[6] That trend was reversed when the Rangers won Game 7 in '94.[6]

1995: Devils Win Stanley Cup

The Devils recovered from the crushing defeat to the Rangers in 1994 and won the Stanley Cup the following year, in a shocking and improbable sweep of the Detroit Red Wings,[11] though they had to go through another of their own rivals (also a great rival of the Rangers) in that year's Eastern Conference Finals, the Philadelphia Flyers,[12] who had eliminated the Rangers in the second round, making the rivalry during the 1995–96 season showdowns between the Stanley Cup champions of the previous two seasons.

When both teams won the Stanley Cup in their respective seasons, the Stanley Cup was awarded on their side of the Hudson River (Rangers won at Madison Square Garden in 1994, Devils at the Meadowlands in 1995). The Devils did not have home ice advantage during their finals. In fact, they were the first team to win the Stanley Cup without having home ice advantage in any of the four rounds of the playoffs.[11]

1997 Playoffs

The third Devils-Rangers playoff series happened only three years later. The Rangers, led by Messier, Wayne Gretzky and Mike Richter, eliminated the Devils in the 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals, winning four games in a row after losing game one. New Jersey was limited to five goals in the five-game series, including two shutout losses.

1998 to 2006

From the start of 1998, however, the pendulum began to swing the other way. New Jersey dominated New York during the regular season in the late 1990s and early 2000s. At one point, the Devils had an unbeaten streak against the Rangers throughout 23 regular season games going 15-0-8; starting on February 17, 1997, and ending March 31, 2001 — an undefeated streak spanning four years.

At the end of the 2005–06, the Devils had won 11 games straight — the second such streak of the season — and capped off the run by winning the Atlantic Division in comeback fashion against the Montreal Canadiens, a division win made all the more exciting by the fact that the Devils had been 22 points out of the lead just 3 months prior, with many thinking the team wouldn't make the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Rangers had the division lead for most of the latter part of the season, but fell victim to a losing skid as the season came to a close. The Devils took the Division title away from the Rangers by ending the season with 1 more point than New York. As fate would have it, the white-hot Devils met the Rangers in their 4th playoff meeting in the 2006 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The result was a four-game sweep by New Jersey over their cross-river rivals for the first time ever in franchise history.

2007-2011

Sean Avery distracts Martin Brodeur during Game 3 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Two years later, the teams would meet yet again in the playoffs for the 5th time, in the 2008 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. After long time Devil Scott Gomez signed with the Rangers before the 2007–08 season, he has been severely booed by Devils fans at the Prudential Center every time he touched the puck.[13] Gomez scored 3 assists in Game 1 and 2 goals in Game 4 against his former team en route to a Rangers series win. In Game 3, Ranger Sean Avery used a tactic to screen opposing goaltender Martin Brodeur. While essentially ignoring the play on the ice when his team had a two-man advantage, Avery faced Brodeur and waved his hands and stick in front of him in an attempt to distract him and block his view. Although not illegal, many NHL commentators and players described Avery's actions as inappropriate.[14] The following day, the NHL issued an interpretation of the league's unsportsmanlike conduct rule to cover actions such as the one employed by Avery.[14] Following the Rangers victory in Game 5 of the series during the hand-shake line, Brodeur shook the hand of every Ranger except Avery. When asked what happened after the game, Avery said "Well, everyone talks about how classy or un-classy I am, and fatso there just forgot to shake my hand I guess. . . We outplayed him. I outplayed him. We’re going to the second round."[15] That year in the regular season, Sean Avery slid into Brodeur. Brodeur shoved Avery who shoved back and a brawl occurred.

During the 2009–10 season, there was a moment of peace in the rivalry with both captains, Rangers' Chris Drury and Devils' Jamie Langenbrunner winning silver medals as members the U.S. men's ice hockey team during the Vancouver Olympics. However, the rivalry was revived because both coaches, Rangers John Tortorella and Devils Jacques Lemaire were on different team's benches. Tortorella was an assistant coach for the U.S. team, Lemaire with the Canadian team, which won the gold medal.

The Rangers won 4 of 6 meetings between the two teams in the 2010–11 season, and won the last meeting of the season to make the playoffs.[16][17] Hours after the Rangers beat the Devils 5–2 in their last game of the season on April 9,[17][18] the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6–2 to help the Rangers reach the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs.[16][19] Both teams were in opposite directions during the season. The Rangers finished 44–33–5, while the Devils finished the season under .500 for the first time since the 1990–91 season, with a record of 38–39–5.[20]

2012 Eastern Conference Final "The Rematch"

The Devils–Rangers series debuted at its latest date since the Devils moved to New Jersey in 1982 during the 2011-12 season. For the previous six seasons the teams had meet at least once in October.[21] In two of the first three meetings of the teams, there have been fights to start the game. Including in the third game of the year, there were two fights immediately after the first face-off. Also in the third game, there was a controversial call that negated a goal by Derek Stepan, due to goaltender interference by Marian Gaborik. Some argue that Gaborik was pushed into the goalie, Brodeur, by ex-Devil Anton Volchenkov, While others argue that the forward did not make an effort to avoid the goaltender, therefore legitimizing the penalty.

The Devils and Rangers met for their final contest of the season on Monday, March 19, 2012 at Madison Square Garden. Continuing the trend established in prior games, the game began with three simultaneous fights. The Rangers went on to win the game 4-2. With the Devils defeating rival Philadelphia Flyers in five games, and the Rangers defeating the Washington Capitals in seven,[22] the stage had been set for a rematch of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals between the two in the Eastern Conference Finals.[23] With the exception of Games 1 and 2, the remainder of the series was played on the 18th anniversary of each game of the 1994 conference finals series between the two teams, and the pattern of wins from Games 3-5 were identical to that of 1994. This pattern was broken when the Devils won Game 6 3-2 in overtime on Adam Henrique's game-winner, securing the Devils' first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals since their championship season of 2003. However, the Devils would lose the Stanley Cup in six games to the Los Angeles Kings.

2012-present

The 2012-13 season started with a lockout because the collective bargaining agreement had expired and the players and owners struggled to agree on new terms. Although the all star game, as well as the winter classic, and almost half of the regular season was lost due to this, they finally agreed to new terms in early 2014 and the season began in January. Devils won the first game between the two teams, but the Rangers won the remaining three. The Rangers 4-1 victory on April 21 in MSG, officially ended the Devils' hopes to reach the playoffs that season. In the 2013-14 season, the two teams squared off in an outdoor game in Yankees Stadium. The Devils blew a 3-1 lead and lost the game 7-3 to the Rangers. Rangers won 2 out of 5 meetings between them that year, and the Devils missed the playoffs a second year in a row, that hadn't happened since 1987. Rangers on the other hand, finally made it to the NHL Finals, which they hadn't done since '94. However, they lost to the Los Angeles Kings, who won their second Stanley Cup in 3 seasons. In the first half of the 2014-2015 season, the Rangers took both meetings between the teams. The first one was a come from behind 4-3 road victory in overtime, and the second was a 3-1 win in the garden, to extend their win streak to 8 consecutive games.

Reaction

Fans on both sides have agreed the rivalry has become even stronger as of late, due in large part to the fact that both teams have shown much more parity towards each other. Many hockey analysts within the media have referred to them as "mirror teams" given their many similarities. Since the NHL Lockout, the two teams have met a total of 43 times (as of March 25, 2010) including postseason games.

Many Rangers fans have been seen burning Devils memorabilia after Ranger victories over the Devils, and lighting their cigarettes with it, while exiting Madison Square Garden. Devils fans, meanwhile, enjoy making confetti which reads "Rangers Suck" and handing them out during games at the Continental Airlines Arena and currently at the Prudential Center. The Jersey fans also have a cheer that is yelled and whistled at every game. In response to the "Let's Go Band"/"Potvin Sucks" chant of Rangers fans against the Islanders, the Devils fans at the Prudential Center cheer "Rangers Suck" (and more recently immediately followed with, "Flyers Swallow"). This chant, just like the Potvin chant being heard whether the Rangers are playing the Islanders or not, is heard at every Devils home game.[24]

The Rangers and Devils rivalry is popular among fans, due to the geographic proximity, which is seen as a battle between the neighboring states of New York and New Jersey. Typically fans follow their teams across the Hudson to view away games. Fans of both teams have also shown considerable hostility towards each other's goalies. Rangers fans have often battered Devils goalie Martin Brodeur with sarcastic chants of "Marty! Marty! Marty!" after goals scored on him during games between the two teams. Conversely, Devils fans will chant "Henrik! Henrik! Henrik!" at Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist after the Devils score on him.

Recently, there have been parting shots taken by players and media at each organization through written words. In Beyond the Crease, an autobiography written by Martin Brodeur, he writes; "I hate the Rangers, and Lou hates them to death."[25] During their last playoff meet, actor/director Kevin Smith was asked to have a blog commenting on the series, which could be read on the NHL's official website. After Game 3 he wrote

No Devils fan can truly pinpoint why we hate our cross-river rivals as much as we do. Even so, Devils fans live to hate the Rangers. Sometimes, it feels like a large cross-section of those folks in the stands at the Rock (and formerly at the Meadowlands) aren't there so much to love on the Devils as they are to hate on New York. Even when the boys in blue aren't anywhere near the building, we're still seething about their very existence. You'd think we'd hold a special place in our hearts for the Rangers, as they gave us our first ever win back in 1982. Granted, they don't roll over for us as much as Philly does (except, y'know - in that last game this season), but the Rangers've been hoisted up high on the Devils' pitchfork enough times (the '06 four-zip playoffs come to mind) to warrant at least a degree of affection right?[26]

In popular culture

This rivalry was satirized in pop culture with the Seinfeld episode "The Face Painter" in which David Puddy, a hard-core Devils fan, paints his face red at a playoff game against the Rangers in the Garden, to the embarrassment of Jerry, Kramer, and Elaine.[27]

References

  1. ↑ "New Jersey Devils Head-to-Head Results". hockey-reference.com. Sports Publishing LLC.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Zinser, Lynn (December 13, 2008). "Rangers Dig Themselves a Hole, and Devils Push Them In". New York Times. p. D5.
  3. ↑ Yannis, Alex (February 18, 1987). "Owner: Devils are not Moving". New York Times. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  4. ↑ Fachet, Robert (May 2, 1992). "Rangers' Net Result: Let Devils Count Ways". The Washington Post. p. G6.
  5. ↑ Bondy, Filip (May 2, 1992). "Rangers Vanquish the Devils and the Demons". New York Times. p. 29.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 LaPointe, Joe (May 28, 1994). "2 Overtimes Later, It's a Final and It's the Rangers". New York Times. p. 27. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  7. ↑ McGourty, John (June 11, 2009). "Keenan knows Game 7 pressure". NHL.com. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
  8. ↑ LaPointe, Joe (May 16, 1994). "Double Overtime Winds Up Devils' Time". New York Times. p. C1.
  9. ↑ LaPointe, Joe (May 20, 1994). "As Shots Ring Out in Overtime, Rangers Triumph". New York Times. p. B11.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Morrison, Scott (2008). Hockey Night in Canada: My Greatest Day. Toronto: Key Porter Books. pp. 106–109, 137. ISBN 978-1-55470-086-8.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Yannis, Alex (June 25, 1995). "New Jersey and the Cup—Perfect Together; Sweep Makes New Jersey and the Cup Perfect Together". New York Times. p. S1.
  12. ↑ Yannis, Alex (June 14, 1995). "Banishing Game 6 Ghosts, Devils Set Sights on Cup". New York Times. p. B11.
  13. ↑ Greenberg, Jay (April 10, 2008). "Hurtin' Gomez Enjoys Some Rib-Tickling Fun". New York Post. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Associated Press (April 14, 2008). "NHL amends unsportsmanlike conduct rule in response to Avery's antics". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  15. ↑ "Avery gives best interview ever; calls Brodeur "fatso"". 5-hole.com. April 19, 2008.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Associated Press (April 9, 2011). "Rangers clinch playoff spot with Canes loss". CBC Sports. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Lozo, Dave (April 9, 2011). "Rangers beat Devils, then make playoffs". NHL. National Hockey League. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  18. ↑ Cerny, Jim (April 9, 2011). "Rangers crush Devils to hold serve". Rangers.NHL.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Lightning knock 'Canes out of playoffs with 6-2 win". NHL.com. National Hockey League. April 9, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  20. ↑ Morreale, Mike G. (April 10, 2011). "Lemaire steps down after Devils' win over Bruins". NHL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  21. ↑ Gross, Andrew (June 24, 2011). "Devils–Rangers' series starts later that usual.". The Bergen Record. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  22. ↑ Lozo, Dave (May 12, 2012). "Rangers outlast Capitals 2-1 in Game 7". NHL.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Rangers and Devils set to renew local rivalry". NHL.com. National Hockey League. May 12, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  24. ↑ Rangers Suck! on YouTube
  25. ↑ Brodeur, Martin; Cox, Damien (2006). Beyond the Crease. Wiley Press. p. 261. ISBN 978-0-470-83851-8.
  26. ↑ Smith, Kevin (2008-04-10). "Live to Hate the Rangers". NHL.com. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  27. ↑ "Seinfeld: The Face Painter". TV.com. Retrieved 2009-01-22.