Battle Of Hudson covers the Rangers and Devils, who's intense rivalry heated up in the 90's. With fresh faces added, they battle for supremacy in NYC and NJ..
I said before this series that Derek would likely handle most of the nuts and bolts analysis while I chime in here and there with my own thoughts, but really there wasn’t a whole lot to analyze about Game 1 regardless. At least not from a Devils standpoint. Quite simply, the team who knows what the playoffs were about played like it and the team that didn’t, got a major reality check this evening. Tonight’s ‘effort’ – if you want to call it that – simply wasn’t anywhere near good enough, pretty much from the coaching and Vitek Vanecek on down to the rest of the skaters. This game was pretty much a worst nightmare from a Devils fan perspective, everything that you feared might torpedo us did so tonight and then some – timely scoring from the Rangers, their goaltending edge, experience and special teams.
Vitek is an easy target after giving up two crappy goals but I’ll start with our not-so-special teams, which was really the first sign of a team-wide system failure tonight. Having four power plays fail to even get a SHOT on net, including two in the first eight minutes was frighteningly incompetent. And a general indicator of how the team continually got overcute with everything on the night, looking for the extra pass rather than taking good shots, then hurrying bad shots. And our penalty kill? Forget it…if you’re going to allow two PP goals a night then you have no shot. Our vaunted assistants need to get the heck back to the drawing board, cause you really couldn’t have gotten worse out of either part of the special teams barring a short-handed goal allowed.
And those two PP goals weren’t even the clunkers Vitek gave up – an unscreened floater from Vladimir Tarasenko beat him shortside less then five minutes into the game, and another unscreened shortside goal by Ryan Lindgren late in the second pretty much sealed our fate with the Rangers game managing their way over the finish line after dominating the first twelve or so minutes of the first period. They didn’t create much the rest of the night but they didn’t need to, with the way the Devils imploded from pillar to post. I wanted to buy the narrative that hey, the Devils have a bunch of guys who do have playoff experience, this belief that their experience will beat us is a bit overplayed but it sure as shooting was the case in Game 1.
Vitek was so bad though, that I would have him on a short leash in Game #2. Especially since the Devils finally smartened up enough to make Akira Schmid the backup. Maybe Schmid will be Cam Ward to Vitek’s Martin Gerber (circa 2006 Carolina). Not that I think we’re winning a Cup, especially after tonight but you have to give yourself the best chance to win. And if Vitek is going to spit the bit in the playoffs, then it’s time to see what Schmid can do. He’s arguably played better than Vitek down the stretch as it is.
It’s not as if Vitek torpedoed a good Devil performance though, really you could name the number of people who showed up for the Devils on one hand. It looked like a total regression to the first two games of the season, if not to 2020-22 entirely. I was tempted to think maybe the Devils needed us to boo them off the ice to motivate them. The shame of tonight is the Devils wasted one of the more legitimate home-ice advantages of Devil-Ranger playoff history. Maybe not quite as good as 2012, there was still a sizeable Ranger presence behind the defending net and in the clubs, but that’s about all there was – it was almost like a soccer stadium where all the visiting fans get bunched in one area.
Will they still have the same home-ice in two nights, or will there be more blue in the arena? Maybe it would help if there was more blue in the arena, this team has played better on the road all year. Which is one reason why I don’t necessarily think the series would be over at 0-2 (the other being my confidence in Schmid). You don’t want to get in that position if you don’t need to be though. More than even winning or losing, this team needs to get back to competing. Cause tonight, that wasn’t a good enough effort, never mind all the tactical issues with the special teams, and goaltending-specific issues.
Watching this team botch pass after pass for some reason reminded me of that moment in the third Mighty Ducks movie when the coach screams at the kids, ‘your stupid little Duck tricks won’t work at this level!’. That’s what tonight felt like, a reality check that whatever fancy style the Devils thought could win in the playoffs wasn’t good enough. You could throw 50+ wins, a team record and all that along with every individual record out the window. Now it’s time to put up when it matters.
“Whenever people have doubted us, we’ve played our best.” – Erik Haula on getting ready for Game 2 #NJDevils
And if you lose the seven-game series that both me and Derek predicted would happen (with different outcomes), fine. I can even accept that against the Rangers this year, as much as I’d hate it, because the preseason goal of being competitive and bringing hope back to the fanbase again was long since reached…but you better not go out like this with an easy five-ish game series a la 1997 and 2008. This isn’t 2018 where we’re up against a vastly superior Tampa team, we should be able to at least compete this time. If you’re going to get clowned in four or five games, then you might as well have missed the playoffs by a point instead of all of these records and individual accomplishments that’ll look even more meaningless after the fact.
Whether this team is ready or not, the playoffs have already begun. Now it’s time to be ready. They might be able to afford another loss, but they absolutely cannot afford another game like tonight, especially with the likelihood of losing at least one game they actually play well in due to Igor Shesterkin’s goaltending, plus the Rangers’ even more massive than feared edge in special teams. This team showed a lot of regular season resiliency all year, now it’s time to translate that into the big boy hockey of the postseason.
Whatever side you’re on, there’s nothing better than when both the Rangers and Devils are good at the same time. Finally, that’s the case as we enter night two of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
There have been times during the unique Hudson Rivalry where one side was front and center. In the early 2000s, it was all Devils with the franchise adding two more Stanley Cups to their first ever championship in 1995.
The names Brodeur, Daneyko, Elias Niedermayer, Stevens, Arnott, Sykora, Brylin, Gomez, Madden, Holik, Lemieux, McKay, Langenbrunner, Mogilny, Gionta, Rafalski, Pandolfo, White and Albelin all are etched in Devils lore. They honored the 2002-03 Stanley Cup team earlier this year, commemorating the 20th Anniversary.
That win wouldn’t have been possible without unlikely playoff heroes Grant Marshall and Jeff Friesen. In that order since it was Marshall’s backhand pass that allowed Friesen to stun Ottawa with the series winner in Game Seven of a memorable Eastern Conference Final. The same can be echoed for Mike Rupp, who’s the trivia answer to the Stanley Cup winner versus Anaheim.
The postseason sometimes makes heroes of players you wouldn’t pick out of a hat. The 93-94 Rangers were chalk full of stars. While Messier, Leetch, Graves, and Richter get most of the credit, there’s no Stanley Cup without Stephane Matteau. A name that’s probably led to many bleeps on the Jersey side of the Hudson. His two overtime winners, including the memorable series clincher in double overtime to win an unbelievable Eastern Conference Final, remain a huge memory for the Manhattan side. He’ll never have to buy another drink in the Big Apple.
That championship team remains the last one to deliver a Cup to the city. So, when they honored them for the 25-year reunion a few years ago, I had chills. The building sounded like what it used to be. One thing about history. The diehards never forget. So, whether it’s the four retired numbers up in the rafters at MSG or a gritty member like Tikkanen, Beukeboom, Wells, MacTavish, or Noonan, we remember what that team represented.
They don’t break the 54-year drought without the Messier drop pass for that Kovalev rocket by Brodeur to swing Game Six at the old Brendan Byrne Arena in The Meadowlands. There’s no championship without the smart defensive work and contribution of Larmer. A player I’ve continued to push for the Hall Of Fame. He and Mogilny not being in is a joke.
You had your savvy vets like Lowe, who had been there and done it with Messier and even Graves in Edmonton. Ditto for Beukeboom. They added MacTavish and Anderson from the Oilers for that run. The running joke has always been that that team was the New York Oilers. However, without homegrown stars like Kovalev, Nemchinov, Richter, and Zubov, there’s no fourth Stanley Cup.
They also sacrificed future stars. Tony Amonte, Doug Weight, and Todd Marchant to win that year. Key players Darren Turcotte and James Patrick went in a three-team deal that landed Steve Larmer from Chicago and Nick Kypreos from Hartford. What about the late Alexander Karpovtsev stepping up that postseason? Or Doug Lidster. Even Greg Gilbert, Joey Kocur, and Eddie Olczyk were a part of it.
To win a championship in hockey, you need everyone. Now, it’s even harder. With the divisional format, it leads to spicier match-ups. You have the Leafs and Lightning in a first round rematch starting tonight. Rangers/Devils wouldn’t be happening without that format. We’d get Rangers and Leafs instead. The Devils would’ve drawn the Bolts.
Unlike the last time the bitter rivals met in 2012, there’s no Brodeur or Lundqvist. The only holdover is Chris Kreider. He debuted that postseason after winning a national title with Boston College. So, he should have an extra incentive to win this series. Being on the winning side matters. Especially in the Battle of Hudson.
As Devils contributor Hasan noted, this seventh installment will feel like an eternity. It’ll be exciting, nerve-racking, and cause anxiety. That’s what makes it special. It matters so much to the fans in the stands and those watching on TV. The war of words can be exchanged between the younger generation. We’re past that. Let them have their fun. Sometimes, you can bite off more than you can chew. That’s why I’m more reflective. I’ll enjoy the first round series for what it is. A battle between two very good hockey teams chasing the same thing.
Now, it’s about Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, Dougie Hamilton, Vitek Vanecek, Tomas Tatar, Ondrej Palat, Miles Wood, Mike McLeod, Dawson Mercer on the Devils’ side. It’s Mika Zibanejad, Kreider, Patrick Kane, Vincent Trocheck, Artemi Panarin, Vladimir Tarasenko, Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, Igor Shesterkin on the Rangers’ side.
The thing is, we don’t know who’s going to be the x-factor. Which defensive pair will fare better when matched up? Ryan Graves and John Marino, or K’Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba. That should be a huge key to who advances to face the winner between the similarly matched Hurricanes and Islanders. Especially if last night was any indication.
I’ve been pretty consistent in emphasizing the importance of the 21+ Kid Line of Filip Chytil, Alexis Lafreniere, and Kaapo Kakko. All homegrown former first round picks. The cohesive trio was vital to the Rangers’ postseason success a year ago. Their uncanny ability to get pucks in deep, cycle, and contribute made a difference.
For the Devils that could be the BMW Line. Centered by face-off master Mike McLeod, who plays with Miles Wood and Nathan Bastian, they play with the edge needed to succeed during a series. They like to forecheck and create offense off the wall. Similar to the Chytil line. But with a bit more grit. The Rangers must be aware of Wood, who likes to drive the net. He likes to get dirty.
What about other players? The Devils have Jonas Siegenthaler teamed back up with the dangerous Hamilton. Damon Severson is on the third pair with Kevin Bahl. He’s capable of finding offense. The Rangers will count on Braden Schneider to provide more physicality. Veteran Niko Mikkola will team up on the third pair.
Lindy Ruff has options if Bahl struggles. Brendan Smith could get in against his former team. He did play in last year’s second round series for the Hurricanes. He is a gritty type who knows how to play. Would Ruff give Luke Hughes a look? That depends on how the series plays out.
Gerard Gallant can count on the checking line. The straightforward approach of Barclay Goodrow, Jimmy Vesey, and Tyler Motte provides him with a real fourth line. They all are capable of contributing while killing penalties. Goodrow usually steps it up this time of year. He’s won before. Motte has played well recently. Keep an eye on him.
Who will be the hero? Is it a matter of Shesterkin making the big saves to get the better of the inexperienced Vanecek? What if Vanecek gives up a couple of bad ones? Does Ruff insert the promising Akira Schmid, who seems more comfortable in that role than Mackenzie Blackwood? We’ll wait and see what happens.
It’s sure to be fun. Try to enjoy it. These series don’t happen too often. In the 90s, we were spoiled. We got three. Even when Lundqvist was battling Brodeur, the Rangers and Devils met three more times between 2006 and 2012. The sting of that last series still lingers. The name Henrique carries the same thoughts for the Rangers’ side that Matteau has for the Devils’ side. At least they didn’t win the Cup. Not so fast. We lost to the Kings, too.
All of the scenarios are just that. The puck drops in Newark soon. Embrace it.
Jack Hughes and the Devils take aim at K’Andre Miller and the Rangers in an exciting first round series. Getty Images
The dream match-up is finally here. Indeed, when they drop the puck for Game One on Tuesday in Newark, it’ll be the Rangers and Devils doing battle in an exciting first round series.
For the first time in eleven years, the Battle of Hudson commences in the NHL Playoffs. Both classic rivals are competing for the same thing. After each had superb seasons, a lot is on the line in the Metropolitan Division Semifinals. Only one team will advance. The loser will have all summer to wonder what went wrong.
Those are high stakes. Only five points separated the Hudson rivals during a long 2022-23 season. The Devils had a great turnaround. They vaulted forward by finishing with 112 points. Good for second place in a tight Metro Division. They were only a point shy of first place. The Hurricanes won it for a second straight year. They’ll draw the Islanders in what could be a low-scoring battle.
The Devils’ improvement was a plus-49 difference from the previous season. As knowledgeable NJDevs blogger Hasan alluded to in a post, it isn’t an NHL record. That was actually set by the Sharks in ’93-94 when they were plus-58. That team went on to upset the Red Wings in a memorable first round. The Devils are hoping for similar success. The difference is that they have a better team capable of going on a run.
The Rangers overcame a slow start. In early December, they hit rock bottom during a frustrating loss to the Blackhawks. At the time, Patrick Kane was still a Hawk. He’s now a Blueshirt. It was a blowup by captain Jacob Trouba that was a turning point. After his helmet toss following a fight, they turned it around. After adding Kane with Vladimir Tarasenko, Tyler Motte, and key defenseman Niko Mikkola, they finished strong to wind up third with 107 points.
The Devils added key finisher Timo Meier to a young core that features potential Hart finalist Jack Hughes, captain Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Dawson Mercer, and Dougie Hamilton. They too want to do damage.
While their bitter rivals are all in on going for a Stanley Cup, following a run to the Conference Finals, the Jersey upstarts aren’t just here for show. They believe they can be that team. When you consider that the Rangers hadn’t seen a real postseason since 2017, look how close they came last year. The ‘why not us’ mentality can certainly be applied to the Devils.
The Rangers boast more experience. Led by Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Kane, Tarasenko, Vincent Trocheck, Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren and Trouba, they should have the edge there. If it’s a close series, and there’s no reason to think it won’t be, the Blueshirts can lean on their past postseason success. That goes double for Stanley Cup winner Barclay Goodrow, who usually raises his game during this time of year. Adding former champions, Kane and Tarasenko should provide some key voices to lean on.
Amongst the Devils who’ve been here before, they have veterans Hamilton, Meier, Tomas Tatar, Erik Haula, Brendan Smith, and former Bolts’ playoff hero Ondrej Palat. A player the Rangers unfortunately knows all too well. Key defensive pair Ryan Graves and John Marino also have past postseason experience.
If there’s a difference, it’s that the Rangers’ young players have last year to lean on. That could prove crucial for the 21 and Over Kid Line that features Filip Chytil, Alexis Lafreniere, and Kaapo Kakko. They were a key factor in last year’s run. How will Jack Hughes respond to the challenge? That’s a good question which will get answered. He broke the single season team record held by Patrik Elias by recording 99 points (43-56-99). That was three better than Elias’ 96 in 00-01.
There’s a lot of subplots. Both Fox and Hamilton each led their respective blue lines in offense with over 70 points. Hamilton broke the Devils’ record by scoring 22 goals. Fox is considered more well-rounded. But Hamilton has been here before. There’s the sexy center match-up between Hughes and Zibanejad. Who will prevail? Which of the big deadline acquisitions will have the most impact? It’s all that makes this first round series so compelling.
It’s time to break down the two teams. This should be fun. Before I do, let’s take a look at the series history.
THE HUDSON RIVALRY
YEAR ROUND SERIES RESULT
’92 Div. Semis Rangers in 7
’94 Conf. Finals Rangers in 7
’97 Conf. Semis Rangers in 5
’06 Conf. Qtrs Devils in 4
’08 Conf. Qtrs Rangers in 5
’12 Conf. Finals Devils in 6
Series History: Rangers lead 4-2.
The Rangers and Devils met four times during the 2022-23 season. The Devils took the season series by winning three of four games. A closer look at the match-up.
Miller 0-5-5, Zibanejad 1-3-4, Kreider 3-1-4, Chytil 1-2-3, Trocheck 2-1-3, Fox 0-3-3, Panarin 1-1-2, Vesey 1-1-2, Trouba 0-2-2
METRO DIVISION SEMIFINALS
(M3) RANGERS VERSUS (M2) DEVILS
FORWARDS: If you like sexy match-ups, the Rangers boast a top line led by leading goalscorer Mika Zibanejad. His 39 goals and 20 power play goals paced the team. His 91 points were a career best. Chris Kreider was second with 36 goals. He led them with four shorthanded goals. Can Patrick Kane (5-7-12 in 19 GP) elevate his game with Zibanejad and Kreider?
The Devils counter with the sensational Jack Hughes. He erupted for a career best 43 goals, 56 assists, and his 99 points broke Jersey legend Patrik Elias’ single season record of 96. He centers Jesper Bratt, whose two-way capability, along with his speed, makes him a good fit. He went for a career high 32 goals while equaling the 73 points he had in 21-22. Big acquisition Timo Meier (9-5-14 in 21 GP) rounds it out with the physical tools and shot that can make an impact.
The second lines are equally compelling. Vincent Trocheck (22-42-64) finished strong while centering Artemi Panarin (29-52-91) and key pick-up Vladimir Tarasenko (8-13-21 in 31 GP). Trocheck is the best face-off guy they have, winning 56.1 percent. Panarin comes in hot. He’s shooting the puck more. Tarasenko has fit in well due to his skating play-making and edge.
Nico Hischier had a terrific season. He set career bests in goals (31), assists (49), and points (80). The two-way pivot is responsible in all three zones as his plus-33 and team high three shorthanded goals attest. He went 53.9 percent on draws. His line with veteran Tomas Tatar (20 goals, +41) and the overlooked Dawson Mercer (27-29-56) can match up against a top scoring line. It’ll be interesting to see how Lindy Ruff deploys them.
Everyone loves what Filip Chytil, Alexis Lafreniere, and Kaapo Kakko bring to the table for the Blueshirts. Chytil had a career high 22 goals and 45 points while going plus-15. Kakko scored a personal best 17 goals with 40 points. Lafreniere produced a new high with 39 points. The Kid Line combines the speed of Chytil with the puck possession of Kakko. Lafreniere supplies the grit. He can come out with pucks and make plays.
At times, Ruff had Meier on the third line to provide scoring balance. He can always move proven playoff performer Ondrej Palat up. Palat struggled post surgery with only eight goals and 23 points in 49 games. But we know better. Erik Haula centers the line. An underrated player who is money between the dots (54.2 pct), he quietly had 41 points. Ruff sometimes will use Haula to take draws for Hughes (35.3). Jesper Boqvist (10 goals) is a solid skater.
The battle between the checking lines shouldn’t be ignored. Both the Rangers’ grind line of Barclay Goodrow, Jimmy Vesey, and Tyler Motte, along with the Devils’ BMW line that features Mike McLeod, Miles Wood, and Nathan Bastian can be effective. Each fourth line likes to chip pucks deep and win board battles. They’re each capable of contributing. I’d give a slight edge to Vesey, Goodrow, and Motte due to them being a little better in their end.
Edge: Even
DEFENSE: Both teams are led by a high scoring defenseman who can make an impact. The Rangers boast former Norris winner Adam Fox. A slick skater with terrific vision, he can do damage both in transition and on the forecheck. He finished with 72 points, including 60 assists. A great power play quarterback, Fox had 29 power play points. Partner Ryan Lindgren supplies the nuts and bolts. His presence is a big key. He will do anything to win games, laying his body out to block shots.
The Devils counter with the lethal Dougie Hamilton. His 22 goals are a new team record. More of a shoot first player, he will look to fire pucks from the point. His 74 points paced the club. His seven game-winners ranked second behind Hischier (9). Down the stretch, Jonas Siegenthaler was replaced by Kevin Bahl. But at the most recent practice, Siegenthaler was back on the top pair. He had a good first half but was inconsistent in the second half.
The key to the series could be the play of the match-up defense pairs. For the Rangers, Gerard Gallant likes to use K’Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba against opponents’ best. They log a ton of minutes. Miller hit a career high 43 points, including 34 assists. He takes more risks. Ttouba is the more stay at home defenseman who will deliver big hits. His 218 paced the team along with 196 blocks. They were on for a lot of goals against. They’ll get tested by the Devils’ speed.
The Devils have their own reliable second pair. It’s Ryan Graves and John Marino. Graves will sacrifice his body. He paced the team with 152 blocks. One more than Siegenthaler. Graves has a good shot. He’s capable of jumping into the play. He is also an expert at saving goals. Marino is the more steady defenseman. He doesn’t do much of the physical stuff but makes subtle plays to get out of trouble. They’ll be tasked with the Rangers’ best line. At the moment, that’s the Panarin unit.
Each third pair is decent. The Rangers made a wise addition by also adding Niko Mikkola from the Blues in the Tarasenko deal. A good skater for his size, he’s capable defensively with the more physical Braden Schneider. Baby Troubs had 147 hits and 130 blocks. Both are good at reading plays. However, they can be exploited in their end.
Damon Severson is the trusted veteran on the Devils’ bottom pair. He still can find the back of the net. He’s not asked to do as much. However, you still have to be aware of him. Defensively, he can be an adventure. Especially in transition. That’s why he’s protected. Bahl is a surprisingly good skater for his size. His confidence grew down the stretch. However, he isn’t overly physical. This is a new experience for the 22-year old.
Edge: Rangers
Igor Shesterkin will look to stop Nico Hischier and a talented Devils roster in the Battle of Hudson. Getty Images
GOALIES: The Rangers know they can rely on Igor Shesterkin in goal. Although it wasn’t his best season, he rounded into form late. Shesterkin finished with 37 wins, a 2.58 GAA, and 916 save percentage. Capable of stealing games, he can also lean on last year’s postseason experience. The former Vezina winner will face a good challenge.
He’ll need to play better than he did in the season series. But so do his teammates. They can’t expect to play so loose against a dangerous opponent. Shesterkin certainly is the established netminder in the series. Jaroslav Halak backs up. If he gets off the bench, that won’t be a good sign.
Vitek Vanecek has been the man for the Devils. He won a career high 33 games while posting a 2.45 GAA and .911 save percentage in his third season. There were some struggles the past two months. That could’ve been due to the workload. He made a career best 48 starts, appearing in 52 games. Can he continue to make the big saves like he did during the season?
The Devils are banking on it. The alternative is an inconsistent Mackenzie Blackwood, who again had setbacks with injuries. It’s become obvious that Akira Schmid should be the backup. He completely outplayed Blackwood, posting impressive numbers that included a 2.13 GAA and .922 save percentage. He’s only 22, but looks like the future in net for Jersey.
Edge: Rangers
Coaches: Gerard Gallant has proven capable behind the Rangers bench. He expects a lot from his experienced team. If something isn’t clicking, he won’t hesitate to make a line switch. Usually, it’s the top two lines. He doesn’t mind going head to head with key match-ups. It’ll be interesting to see what his strategy is for slowing down the Devils.
Lindy Ruff has even more experience behind the bench. The Devils coach is a strong candidate for the Jack Adams. He did a masterful job turning the Devils around. No stranger to the postseason. He’s taken a team to the Stanley Cup Finals. Similar to Gallant in that respect. Ruff might prefer to get the match-ups. He has the last change with his team having home ice. He’ll probably be comfortable with his team utilizing its greatest strength to push the pace.
Edge: Even
SPECIAL TEAMS: If there’s an area that could prove crucial, it’s the battle of special teams. Neither team was penalized much during the regular season. However, the power play and penalty kill always play a role in these series.
The Rangers boast the seventh ranked power play. They clicked at 24.5 percent (64-for-261), including the third best on the road. They were 28-for-114 (24.6) in away games. At home, they went 31-for-131 (23.7) to rate 12th. They allowed five shorthanded goals.
The five-man unit includes Zibanejad, Kreider, Panarin, Fox, and Kane for now. He could be replaced by Tarasenko, who fits in better. The second unit features Trocheck, Chytil, Lafreniere, Tarasenko, and Trouba.
The Devils ranked fourth on the penalty kill. They tied with Calgary by having an 82.6 success rate. They ranked fourth at home, allowing 16 power play goals in 117 attempts (86.3). They were 13th on the road, going 78.8 percent (24 PPG allowed over 113 attempts).
They scored nine shorthanded goals, paced by Hischier’s three. Haula and Yegor Sharangovich each had two. Mercer and Severson had one apiece.
The Devils ranked 13th on the power play, clicking at 21.9 percent. They went 49-for-224. At home, they were 13th, going 29-for-126 (23.0). On the road, they ranked 16th, going 20-for-98 (20.4). They gave up eight shorthanded goals.
The top unit features Hughes with Hischier, Bratt, Meier, and Hamilton. They’ll obviously be leaned on. However, the second unit isn’t bad. It includes Wood, Haula, Mercer, Tatar, and Severson.
The Rangers finished 13th on the penalty kill. They improved down the stretch to wind up with an 81.2 success rate. They allowed 42 power play goals over 223 attempts. At home, they were 16th clicking at 79.8 percent (23 PPG allowed in 114 attempts). On the road, they were better ranking tied for third with Carolina. Both were 82.6 percent. The Rangers allowed 19 power play goals in 109 attempts.
They scored eight shorthanded goals. Kreider had half with four. Zibanejad, Trouba, Lindgren, and Vesey all had one.
Edge: Even
INTANGIBLES: The Rangers boast an overwhelming experience with even their key younger players benefiting from last year’s trip to the Eastern Conference Final. That should be an edge if it’s a close series. They also have more pressure. Chris Drury went all in on the postseason. They’ll be under the spotlight.
The Devils don’t have as much experience. They’ll lean on vets like Palat, Hamilton, Haula, Meier, and Tatar. However, players of Hughes’ stature can use it to their advantage. Many are picking the Rangers. The disrespect could serve as a motivator. They’re a year ahead of schedule. They should be loose.
Edge: Rangers
X-FACTOR: For the Rangers, it’s pretty simple. The Kid Line can make a big difference. If Chytil, Lafreniere, and Kakko can control the boards, they should get some clean looks. Secondary scoring this time of year is essential.
The Devils will look towards the BMW line of Bastian, McLeod, and Wood. They’re very effective on the cycle and get traffic in front. That’s their energy line.
Edge: Rangers
DEPTH: What happens if a player goes down? Or what if a player isn’t performing. The Devils have more depth. They can insert either Yegor Sharangovich or vet Curtis Lazar if needed. They also boast both well-respected veteran Brendan Smith and newcomer Luke Hughes on the back end. Neither will start the series. But if Ruff decides to show a different look, he has options.
The Rangers don’t have that same strength. Their lineup is what you’ll probably see. Barring an injury to Lindgren, Ben Harpur is the extra defenseman. He played okay in that role. He brings a physical edge. The extra forwards are Jonny Brodzinski and Jake Leschyshyn. Brodzinski would get in if necessary.
OFFICIAL: #NYR have recalled defenseman Libor Hajek, forwards Jonny Brodzinski + Jake Leschyshyn and goaltender Louis Domingue from @WolfPackAHL.
SERIES ANALYSIS: The Devils and Rangers both have good offenses. But, it’s the Devild who are more lethal due to their combination of speed and skill. They can transition quickly. They’re also underrated on the forecheck. Their aggressive nature can force turnovers. Something we saw during the season series.
The Rangers might be tempted to trade chances with their close Hudson rivals. It isn’t advisable. They would be better off slowing the Devils down. A higher tempo favors the faster opponent. The Rangers are the more physical team. They have more skaters who’ll finish checks. They will want to forecheck to try to wear the Devils down.
The Devils will win if they can use their superior speed to get in open space and swarm the Rangers’ net. Vanecek makes the key saves as he did during the season. Special teams is a wash.
The Rangers will win if they can dictate the tempo. Don’t get into a track meet. Shesterkin makes the difference in net. Their power play does damage.
SERIES PREDICTION: This promises to be an exciting first round series. Expect a lot of counters, momentum shifts, and big saves. I think you’ll see at least two overtime games. It’ll be close. I don’t see home ice mattering. Each team can win in the other’s barn. There will be plenty of fans represented in both buildings. Although more Rangers fans at The Prudential Center than Devils fans at Madison Square Garden. The style of play will decide the seventh ever meeting between the Rangers and Devils.
Tonight, it finally gets rolling. After a long 82-game schedule, the best time of year is finally here.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin with four games on Monday. The first round gets going later. It’ll start off with the defensive minded Islanders at the puck possession Hurricanes. That’s at 7 EST. Half an hour later, the record-setting Bruins host the Panthers. Those are your two Eastern Conference games on Day One.
Out West, an intriguing match-up between the Wild and Stars faces off at 9:30 EST. It pits the former North Stars against the current Minnesota team. They’ve always had a unique rivalry. It’s definitely contesting styles. That should make for a good series.
The late game takes place in Edmonton at 10 EST. The Oilers and Kings will battle once again in Round One. Last year, it took a superhuman performance from Connor McDavid to carry the Oilers past the stingy Kings in seven. They made it all the way to the Western Conference Final. This year, they’re one of the favorites to get back to the Final Four and potentially the Stanley Cup Finals. LA will be the underdog. A role they don’t mind.
Per the schedule, the Islanders and Hurricanes are on MSG. They’ll be on locally for the first four games. ESPN2 has the national for Games 1 and 2. It’s TBS for Game Three and TNT for Game Four. That’s only if you’re out of the area. Otherwise, it’ll be subject to blackout. Sunday would be Game Four at UBS Arena. It’s at 1 PM. After Game Five, the teams get two days off for Game Six. If it happens, that would be on April 28. If it goes seven, that’s April 30.
ESPN has the Panthers and Bruins from Boston. The Bruins are the overwhelming favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Led by David Pastrnak and Linus Ullmark, they broke the record for most wins (65) and most points (135) in a season. None of that matters now. They will have lots of pressure to do it in the postseason. The Panthers come in playing a little better. They can trade scoring chances. They’ll rely on Alex Lyon, who got them here. Matthew Tkachuk has a chance to lead a big upset.
The Wild and Stars are on ESPN2 following the Islanders/Hurricanes. If that goes to overtime, the start of Dallas and Minnesota could be moved to ESPN News or ESPN Plus. If you like scoring, the Wild boasts some exciting talent with top star Kirill Kaprizov returning for Game One. He’s ready to go. Matt Boldy took the reigns and went on a tear. They’ll start with Filip Gustavsson in goal. The Stars have the exciting Jason Robertson, who combines with Roope Hintz to form a potent duo. Joe Pavelski is always tough in front during the playoffs. Miro Heiskanen is the best defenseman in the series. Totally overlooked for the Norris, he is one of the game’s elite D. The Stars should have an edge in net with Jake Oettinger.
ESPN has the late game from Edmonton. CBC has it up north. The Canadian feed is always great. Maybe I’ll try to get it on my Android. The Kings hope to slow down McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. They all had over 100 points, becoming the first trio on the same team to eclipse the century mark in a season since Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, and Ron Francis did it for the ’95-96 Penguins. Petr Nedved missed being the fourth by one point. McDavid went over 150 points, becoming the first player to reach that plateau since Lemieux in 95-96 when he led the league with 161 points. Edmonton will lean on Stuart Skinner in goal. It’s his first postseason. Jack Campbell is the veteran backup. Mattias Ekholm changed the defense after coming over from Nashville. He was plus-28 following the trade. Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard provide the offense. The Oilers also have better offensive depth due to Zach Hyman, Evander Kane, along with support players Mattias Janmark, Ryan McLeod, Klim Kostin, Derek Ryan and Warren Foegle.
Los Angeles hopes to have key scorer Kevin Fiala back for the first two games. If they don’t, their chances of an upset go down. They will depend on the two-way play of captain Anze Kopitar, Phillip Danault, and defense led by Drew Doughty and deadline addition Vladislav Gavrikov. Adrian Kempe and Viktor Arvidsson supply the offense along with Kopitar and Doughty. They could also be without Gabriel Vilardi. That means they’ll need other players to step up. Are Quinton Byfield or Arthur Kaliyev ready for that kind of role? It might fall on veterans like Trevor Moore, Alex Iafallo, and Blake Lizotte. The defense is a strength with Sean Durzi, Matt Roy, and Mikey Anderson key players. They’ll be without vet Alex Edler.
The four other first round series begin on Tuesday. The Rangers and Devils are first up. They’ll be on MSG Plus and MSGSN. The Rangers will be moved to the third network due to the ridiculous NBA schedule that has the Knicks playing the Cavaliers in Game Two tomorrow instead of tonight. That starts at 7 EST. Game Two is on Thursday at 7:30. Saturday is on ABC exclusively at 8 EST. ESPN+ if you’re streaming it. Only between Games 4 and 5 is there a two days off. If it goes seven, that would be on May 1.
For more coverage on the Battle of Hudson, please refer to my complete series breakdown. It promises to be an intriguing match-up. The headliners are Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, Tomas Tatar, Dawson Mercer, and Dougie Hamilton for the Devils. For the Rangers, it’s Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Adam Fox. Don’t forget that in a playoff series, it’s usually the grinders who make the difference. That could be Mike McLeod, Miles Wood, Nathan Bastian, Ryan Graves, John Marino, or the battle-tested Ondrej Palat for Jersey. On the Blueshirts, it could be Filip Chytil, Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko, Barclay Goodrow, Jimmy Vesey, Tyler Motte, Jacob Trouba, or Braden Schneider. To reiterate, the goalie match-up pits Igor Shesterkin against Vitek Vanecek. A much more thorough analysis is in the above preview I linked up.
If you’re looking for another potential series to watch, then Lightning vs. Maple Leafs II has you covered. Last year, the Bolts rallied to stun the Leafs in seven, extending Toronto misery. This time, the Leafs look like the better team. Although the Bolts didn’t win much down the stretch, don’t forget how much championship pedigree they have. Andrei Vasilevskiy can steal a series. He’ll need to be at his best. Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point are playoff clutch. There’s Steven Stamkos, Anthony Cirelli, Alex Killorn, Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, who all have been here before. Brandon Hagel and Nick Paul are key contributors. Nick Perbix is the surprising rookie.
The Leafs are hoping that Ilya Samsonov can get it done in goal. He has plenty of offensive support from Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares. But adding former Conn Smythe winner Ryan O’Reilly could be huge. He’s got the necessary experience they can lean on. Even additions Sam Lafferty and Noel Acciari are the kind of high character depth players who can provide secondary help. There’s also the edge Michael Bunting plays with. He and Corey Perry don’t like each other. There were a ton of penalty minutes in the tune-up. If Tanner Jeannot can go for Tampa, that would be interesting. They acquired him for this series. Calle Jarnkrok became a key scorer for the Leafs. There’s much more depth this time around. Having Luke Schenn to support Morgan Rielly and Mark Giordano on defense should help. He knows the Lightning well. If Samsonov falters, Joseph Woll is a good option.
Game One is on ESPN tomorrow at 7:30 EST. It should be a doozy.
Out West, you have the final two series. The Golden Knights are the top seed. They have a strong nucleus that features Jack Eichel in his first postseason. There’ll be plenty of pressure. Having a good supporting cast that includes old reliable trio William Karlsson, Reilly Smith, and Jonathan Marchessault should help. Chandler Stephenson remains a vastly underrated playmaker. Their depth includes Phil Kessel, William Carrier, along with veteran Teddy Blueger, former Blue Ivan Barbashev, and Nicholas Roy. How much will Pavel Dorofeyev play? The biggest edge they should have against the Jets is on the back end. Shea Theodore and Alex Pietrangelo anchor the D. Alec Martinez adds experience while Nicolas Hague and Brayden McNabb are solid defenders. The biggest question is in the net. They’re going with backup Laurent Brossoit in Game One. He played well recently. If the experiment fails, it’s Jonathan Quick. A Stanley Cup winner, who’s nearing the end. I think we’ll see him.
The biggest advantage Winnipeg has is with Connor Hellebuyck in goal. He carried them into the playoffs. A former Vezina winner, who’s in his prime, he is capable of stealing a series. The question is, how many shots will he have to stop. The 29-year old American is one of the best goalies. He could have to stand on his head for the Jets to pull it off. The defense isn’t particularly strong. However, they boast Josh Morrissey. A Norris candidate, he can fill it up. He’ll be looking to jump up often. It really weakens with Neal Pionk not strong in his end. Brenden Dillon and Nate Schmidt supply the nuts and bolts. Dylan DeMelo is a decent skater. This could be it for this core that includes Kyle Connor, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and proven vets Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, and Nik Ehlers. The scoring isn’t as good. They’ll need secondary help from Adam Lowry, Mason Appleton, and Morgan Barron. Nino Niederreiter is no stranger to the postseason. He and Vladislav Namestnikov were brought in to supply help.
The Avalanche still came back to win the Central Division. Most impressively, they did it without captain Gabriel Landeskog. Unfortunately, he’ll miss the playoffs. He’s an old school player who could play in any era. They could miss him in trying to go back-to-back. Nathan MacKinnon enters on fire. He and Mikko Rantanen are fantastic superstars who can carry a team. Facing the upstart high scoring Kraken, Colorado has the edge on the blue line and with Alexandar Georgiev in the net. He won 40 games in his first season as a full-time starter. How will he perform under the spotlight? Pavel Francouz backs up. Cale Makar was rested down the stretch due to an injury. How serious is it? He’s the leader of a defense that features Devon Toews, Bowen Byram, Sam Girard, Erik Johnson, and Josh Manson, who’s ready to return.
Josh Manson should be good to go for Tuesday, and we’ll await word on Makar (I anticipate him playing), but if he does, the Avs will dress all of Makar, Toews, Byram, Girard, and Manson in the same game for the first time since November 4.
The Avalanche have overcome injuries to get where they are. But key scorers Artturi Lehkonen and Val Nichushkin are healthy coming in. J.T. Compher is overlooked. The secondary scoring will be provided by Evan Rodrigues, Alex Newhook, and Logan O’Connor. If healthy, Denis Malgin can contribute. They added Lars Eller from the Caps. Is Darren Helm ready?
The Kraken got here in their second year. Pretty impressive stuff from coach of the year candidate Dave Hakstol. Jared McCann scored 40 goals. He became their go-to guy. Matty Beniers is a good young center who should win the Calder. Seattle does it by committee with Jordan Eberle, Yanni Gourde, Daniel Sprong, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Jaden Schwartz all pitching in. Keep an eye on Eeli Tolvanen. He scored 16 goals after Seattle claimed him from Nashville off waivers. Brandon Tanev supplies the grit, and Alex Wenmberg provides additional play-making. Imagine if Andre Burakovsky is cleared to return. He was also an Av.
The big offensive guy on the blue line is Vince Dunn. He finally fulfilled his potential with 64 points, including a team best 50 assists. Adam Larsson had a good season. Jamie Oleksiak and Justin Schultz can contribute. William Borgen and Carson Soucy round out the D. Goaltending is a huge question mark. Can they rely on the tandem of Martin Jones and Philipp Grubauer? Grubauer performed well versus his former team. He likely will get the nod for Game One with Jones just returning.
So, what to expect in the first round? A couple of upsets along with some favorites advancing.
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
FIRST ROUND
Eastern Conference
(1) Bruins over (A4) Panthers in 5
Analysis: Too much depth from a loaded Bruins featuring Pastrnak, Bergeron, Marchand, Krejci, DeBrusk, Hall, Zacha, Coyle, Bertuzzi, Frederic, Hathaway, McAvoy, Lindholm, Orlov, Carlo, and Forbort. The Panthers can score. Tkachuk, Barkov, Reinhart, Verhaeghe, and Montour are all capable of lighting the lamp. But the team defense could get exposed.
(A2) Maple Leafs over (A3) Lightning in 6
Analysis: Here we go again. The improved depth should finally get the Leafs over the hump. The Lightning hasn’t been consistent all year. Maybe a defense without McDonagh gets exposed. They can never be counted out. If Toronto can’t do it this year, then when will they ever?
(M4) Islanders over (M1) Hurricanes in 6
Analysis: The games should be tight. If they are, that favors the Islanders, who have the better goalie in Sorokin. The Canes are starting Raanta in Game One. They lost both Pacioretty and Svechnikov. Barzal is ready for the Isles. That bodes well. Horvat, Nelson, and Pageau are strong up the middle. Aho, Kotkaniemi, and Staal are, too. Unless Necas and Teravainen fill the net, along with Skjei and Burns, goals could be hard to come by for Carolina. Lee, Palmieri, and Parise know what it takes. The Isles can be exposed on the back end. But Pelech, Pulock, and Mayfield supply the grit. Sorokin can steal this series.
(M3) Rangers over (M2) Devils in 7
Analysis: If you read my preview, this looks like a very even match-up between two high scoring teams that love to transition. The team that makes the fewer mistakes will prevail. I believe it’ll be the play of Chytil, Lafreniere, and Kakko that make the difference. Shesterkin gives the Rangers an edge. I like their power play. The Devils have dangerous game-breakers, great team speed, and comeback ability. That’s why I see it going seven. The Rangers have the pressure. They need to win.
Western Conference
(1) Golden Knights over (C4) Jets in 6
Analysis: I was tempted to pick Winnipeg due to Hellebuyck. I don’t believe their team defense is good enough. I also think the Knights’ D won’t allow the Jets’ burners to turn it into a track meet. Tighter checking favors Vegas, who will probably play well in front of their goalie(s). It gets interesting if the Jets can steal home ice. Give me the overall depth of Vegas.
(P2) Oilers over (P3) Kings in 5
Analysis: As much as I respect how the Kings play, they are without two key scorers. It’s Korpisalo in the net. Can they make it tough on the supremely skilled and much faster Oilers? Yes. Do they have enough to beat them? I don’t think so. McDavid has taken his game to another level. Ekholm has made a difference. As long as Kane shows up, I think they’ll win the rematch more comfortably.
(C1) Avalanche over (P4) Kraken in 5
Analysis: There should be plenty of goals scored. As long as Georgiev holds up, I can’t see the Kraken pulling the upset. They love to speed up the tempo. But the defending champs are better at it due to MacKinnon and Rantanen. If Makar is good to go, he’s the best defenseman in the series. Seattle will need a gigantic performance from either Grubauer or Jones.
(C2) Stars over (C3) Wild in 7
Analysis: I think this is a heckuva series. Both teams have speed and scoring. Each relies on their goalie. The Stars have the proven Oettinger. The Wild is hoping Gustavsson can duplicate his regular season. If not, Fleury is a good option. Minnesota needs a big series out of Zuccarello, Eriksson Ek, Hartman, Gaudreau, Foligno, and Johansson. Spurgeon, Brodin, and Addison are key D, along with Middleton. They’ll want to turn it into a physical series. The Stars have more balance due to Benn, Seguin, rookie Wyatt Johnson, and Marchment. Hakanpaa flies under the radar on that blue line with Lindell. Suter remains steady. It should be a close series. I like the Stars to overcome their recent first round failures.
At first glance, doesn’t seem like anything out of the ordinary for the East series at least, including no back-to-backs. If I’m surprised at anything it’s that they chose to have Rangers-Devils on the same night as Lightning-Leafs, clearly the two marquee series on the East docket for the first round. I saw a good point elsewhere though, since they are the two marquee series both had to play on Saturday night each week for CBC and ABC, so they necessarily had to be on the same schedule throughout to do it.
Nothing more to add really here, it took this long for the full playoff schedule to come out because there were two other makeup games to be played, including an Avalanche win that gave them yet another Central division title. At least we already knew the Devils were starting at home on Tuesday and Thursday (so much for the rumors of Monday).
If you’re a Billy Joel fan you might not be happy his latest concert got moved for Game 3, but that’s the breaks – especially when you have both MSG teams playing concurrently in April.
Over a year ago, Mika Zibanejad signed a contract extension that would pay him $8.5 million through 2030. At the time, he could’ve waited until the Rangers played a full 21-22 season. One in which he set career highs in assists (52), points (81), plus/minus (30), and power play goals (15).
That was before he led the team in scoring during a postseason that saw them reach the Eastern Conference Final. Zibanejad finished with 24 points (10-14-24). He proved he was worth that extension.
It’s now considered a bargain. Fast forward to April 2023. With his 30th birthday approaching, Zibanejad put together his best season. For the first time in his career, he reached 90 points. He established new personal bests in points (91), power play goals (20), and paced the club in power play points (39).
It wasn’t only his consistent production. Zibanejad played a good all-around game by coming back defensively. He again was strong shorthanded. Always a threat to score down a man, Zibanejad can take the puck away and fly in transition with sidekick Chris Kreider for shorthanded chances. When they play together, it’s fun to watch. They combined for 75 goals. Zibanejad’s 39 paced the team, followed by Kreider’s 36.
More than anything, Zibanejad is a great team guy. He can play with anyone and make Gerard Gallant look smart. For a good portion of the 2022-23 season, he played with Kreider and Jimmy Vesey. Eventually, Vesey slid down to the checking line. Prior to Patrick Kane joining the top line, it was Zibanejad who found chemistry with Artemi Panarin and Vladimir Tarasenko. Both started scoring. Panarin hasn’t stopped since getting his 29th last night on the power play.
Now, both Panarin and Tarasenko play with Vincent Trocheck on the second line. Their chemistry has been superb. Figuring out a way to get the most out of Tarasenko brought out the scorer in Panarin. Zibanejad deserves credit for it. If the Rangers go on a run, that combination could be viewed as a turning point.
The Rangers recently announced team awards. Aside from Jacob Trouba winning the Rod Gilbert Award and Ryan Lindgren winning the prestigious Steven McDonald Award, Lindgren also won Player’s Player.
Team MVP went to Mika Zibanejad. He deserved it. He was the best Ranger all season. A complete player who makes teammates better, the affable 29-year old Swede will do anything to help the Rangers win hockey games. That includes sacrificing the body. He had 57 takeaways. A good number for a top center. It demonstrates how detail oriented he is.
In winning the Rangers Team MVP, it’s the first time a forward won the award since Mark Messier won it. Talk about going way back. Zibanejad is the most important New York Ranger skater. Although it’s close between him and Adam Fox, who does everything on the blue line, I give the edge to Zibanejad. He’s the straw that stirs the drink. When he’s going, the Rangers are a much better team.
Seeing him blossom into a superstar has been a treat. From the time former GM Jeff Gorton acquired him in exchange for clutch Blueshirt Derick Brassard, we’ve seen the former Senators’ 2011 first round pick grow into a great player. That trade is climbing the list of the best in franchise history. Who would’ve believed it?
I always refer to him as Mika Magic. The reason is that he can do things on the ice few other players can. Of course, he’s not in the same category as Connor McDavid. But after Leon Draisaitl and Nathan MacKinnon, how many centers are better than him? It’s too early to rate Jack Hughes ahead of Zibanejad, who’s become a complete player. Hughes will definitely try to outplay Zibanejad in the upcoming first round series between the Rangers and Devils.
There are other centers that are outstanding players. Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos in Tampa. Sidney Crosby as long as he’s playing with the Pens. Patrice Bergeron in Boston. Elias Pettersson in Vancouver. Tim Stutzle hit 90 points in his third season with Ottawa. Auston Matthews with the Leafs. Aleksander Barkov in Florida. Sebastian Aho with the Canes. Anze Kopitar in LA. Nico Hischier is pretty good overall, too in Jersey.
The thing is, Zibanejad outplayed Aho in last year’s second round series. The Rangers came back from a three games to two deficit to win it over the Hurricanes. He was a big reason why.
Mika Magic can show up at any time. Ever since that remarkable five-goal game that tied the franchise record, we’ve seen Zibanejad get better and better. He had 41 goals and 75 points in 57 games when when the 2020-21 season was paused due to COVID. Could he have hit 50 goals? There were still 12 games left in the schedule.
Zibanejad might never approach that figure. However, when you watch him during shifts, you see a player who puts the statistics second. It’s all about the team. We see it in his interviews. He’s also very accountable. That’s why he’s so easy to root for.
It’s nice to see a good guy get rewarded. But also, this isn’t something that’s happened much on Broadway. A star center who grew up. Congrats to Mika on winning the team MVP. He also had a little message about it.
BTW- I thought you'd all like this quote from Mika Zibanejad…
When I asked this morning about winning team MVP, he smiled and said, "Hopefully, I’ll have a bigger thing to lift in June."
That’s what it’s all about. If the Rangers do go on to win the Stanley Cup, you better believe Zibanejad will he a huge part of it. There’s a tough road ahead. One that will officially begin next Tuesday in Newark. We’ll see where it takes them.
Filip Chytil nearly had another unreal Rangers moment. With over a second to go, he thought he scored the tying goal when a loose puck went in off his skate past Joseph Woll.
Filip Chytil's game-tying goal with 1.2 seconds left was ruled no goal due to a kicking motion.
However, an automatic video review by who else but Toronto determined that Chytil kicked the puck in. That preserved a Leafs’ 3-2 win over the Rangers on Fan Appreciation Night at MSG. They honored the Garden Of Dreams kids, even giving away college scholarships. That’s something they always get right.
This was my favorite part of the game. Jacob Trouba greeting Isaiah on the ice during the traditional jersey giveaway. Isaiah wants to be a lawyer. A listen into what Trouba said to him is exactly why he won the Rod Gilbert Mr. Ranger Award. What a classy guy.
Isaiah: You’re our inspiration.
We can’t wait to see you right back here after Troubs watches you graduate law school. pic.twitter.com/GUU8FhQHFM
That’s what it’s all about. I love that kind of stuff. It’s great. There were a lot of emotional scenes around the league, including the Blackhawks send-off for great captain Jonathan Toews, who played for the final time as a Blackhawk. That one made me sad. I’m glad he scored. The crowd sure gave him an unbelievable ovation before and after the game.
"I love you, Chicago. This is my home, you'll always be in my heart."
You also had the Sabres do something similar for classy veteran goalie Craig Anderson, who played the final game of his career. He won it thanks to Casey Mittlestadt scoring in overtime to beat Anderson’s former team, Ottawa. They then had a great send-off that included Anderson’s family on ice as the entire Senators team congratulated him. Pretty cool.
The Sabres win it in OT and immediately rush to congratulate Craig Anderson on what could be his last NHL start 🥹 pic.twitter.com/xgh2wHYvyu
That’s what makes hockey number 1. The players, coaches, and organizations get it. Anderson overcame cancer. He had a good career. Maybe he even one day is inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall Of Fame. He won 319 games.
As far as the Rangers are concerned, they know who their first round opponent is. As had been discussed by both Hasan and I in this space, it’ll be a Battle of Hudson. On what was a wild night, the Devils rallied back from a 4-1 deficit to defeat the Caps 5-4 in overtime on Luke Hughes’ first NHL goal. It’s one for the highlight reel.
While that was happening, the Hurricanes blew a 2-0 lead against the Panthers. Both games were in the third period. But then, Carolina scored consecutive goals to pull back ahead 4-2. They got an empty netter that should’ve sealed it. However, two quick Panthers goals with the goalie pulled made it interesting. Finally, the Canes added a second empty netter to win 6-4, finally wrapping up the Metropolitan Division.
You got all that? Most of the night, it felt like Rangers versus Devils was a certainty. With them playing their third goalie, Mackenzie Blackwood, and resting players, it felt like they were tempting fate. Hasan documented all of this in an earlier post. He then went over it again due to Blackwood, who was replaced by Akira Schmid. It’s worth the read.
I really didn’t think it wouldn’t end up with Rangers/Devils. I thought the Canes would do whatever it took to win the division to avoid our team. They haven’t exactly matched up well over the past year. They will still draw the agonizing Islanders, who love playing a deliberate pace reliant on Ilya Sorokin. Their tight checking style isn’t exactly a great match-up. We’ll have more over the weekend on that series along with the juicy subplots for the seventh installment of the Hudson Rivalry.
I’ll admit that it was fun to follow. I actually watched more of the Devils game than ours due to the special circumstances. I occasionally checked back on the Rangers to see what was happening against the Maple Leafs, who seemed more concerned with Mitch Marner getting his 100th point. It didn’t happen. But William Nylander scored his career best 40th goal to tie the score at two in the deciding third period.
For two periods, there wasn’t much going on. Jaroslav Halak, who got the start, was pitching a shutout. He and counterpart Woll didn’t face a high volume of shots. The two Original Six teams each had only a dozen shots through two periods. Halak did make a couple of excellent saves on Nylander, including denying him on a breakaway during the first period.
Regarding Halak, I’m glad he got the final game. I apologize for my earlier post that inferred Igor Shesterkin was starting. Mollie Walker tweeted the same lineup. I took that to mean we’d also see Igor in the the net. She meant the skaters, meaning every regular played. Gerard Gallant decided to keep his players sharp. There wasn’t a ton of physicality, but Luke Schenn did nail Artemi Panarin with a check. Panarin responded by going back at him during that shift.
The Leafs didn’t rest top stars, Auston Matthews, or Marner either. However, they did give captain John Tavares the night off along with starter Ilya Samsonov, veteran Mark Giordano, and Sam Lafferty. Sheldon Keefe was smart in giving his key players one game off before their big first round clash against the Lightning. A rematch from last year. No team has more pressure than Toronto. Not even the Rangers. The last time the Leafs advanced to the second round, I was in my 20’s. Sidney Crosby was still playing junior hockey, and Alexander Ovechkin was about to get drafted. That was a different time.
It’s hard to believe how long ago that was. The Rangers were going on seven consecutive seasons without the playoffs. Mark Messier played his final game. He scored on a pass from Jozef Balej. It came against the Sabres. It was quite a memorable experience. Seeing the captain a final time at The Garden before it became the current corporate stench full of transients and tourists.
I wonder how many of our fans could get the trivia on the primary assist of that last Messier goal. Balej came over from the Canadiens in the failed Alexei Kovalev deal. A total bust. Vintage Sather. He really sucked at running the team and got lucky that the lockout forced him to adjust his strategy. The salary cap changed things along with Henrik Lundqvist and some guy named Jagr. The Rangers have only missed the playoffs five times since the Dark Ages. Something the millennial newbies never experienced. So when they complain, they sound clueless.
All of this is interesting to remember. But I’m glad we’re not still stuck with no hope. Indeed, the current era of Rangers hockey should excite many who root for a team that’s only won one Stanley Cup in 81 years. Notice I didn’t count 2022-23. That’ll depend on the current roster. They’re very capable of going far in the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’ll be tricky.
I think in a lot of ways, tonight’s game that featured two talented and deep teams is symbolic. Are the Leafs capable of making it out of the first round and potentially upsetting the record-breaking Bruins? Absolutely. First, they must end the first round curse that’s haunted them. I view them as the biggest threat to Boston. But they have to beat the battle-tested Lightning first.
The Rangers are a very good team. They can score better than last year’s roster, which only went on a run to the Conference Finals. But ultimately came up short against the Lightning. They also lucked out beating backups to reach that point. It didn’t make it any less impressive as it was their first real postseason in five years. They showed plenty of resilience.
If you liked the 2021-22 Rangers, who made key additions in Andrew Copp, Frank Vatrano, Tyler Motte, and Justin Braun to balance things out, then this year’s version is more star-studded. Featuring deadline pick-ups Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrick Kane, Motte II, and Niko Mikkola, they’re more offensive minded this time. The defense can sometimes leave you scratching your head. They better not do that against the Devils. It won’t work.
The only goal in the first two periods scored last night came from Kaapo Kakko. He was able to cut in and receive a good feed from Vincent Trocheck. He then patiently waited for an aggressive Woll to commit to what he figured would be a one-timer. Kakko then went to the backhand to score his career best 18th. He finished the season by reaching 40 points for the first time. He’ll need to be a factor along with the 21 and Over Kid Line versus the Devils.
In my mind, the play of Chytil, Kakko, and Alexis Lafreniere will be a key to the series. Their ability to get pucks in and forecheck is something the top two lines lack at times. The cohesive trio plays a more straightforward game, utilizing the game-breaking speed of Chytil along with the grit of Lafreniere to pin opponents deep. Kakko is good at protecting the puck and making plays. They really need to be that line again like last year for the team to have success.
In the third period, the Leafs erupted for three goals. Timothy Liljegren was able to break up the shutout when his innocent looking wrist shot went off a player and through Halak to tie the score. It was a fluky goal.
Lafreniere was able to draw a tripping minor on Nylander. That put the Rangers on their first power play. Up to that point, only one penalty was called. In the seesaw third, the hard work of Lafreniere drew both Toronto penalties. His overall game has improved dramatically. I think he can be an x-factor in the first round.
On the five-on-four, some good passing between Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox allowed the red hot Artemi Panarin to score his 29th on the power play. In particular, Fox made a no-look backhand pass across for a Panarin one-timer that beat Woll high, short side. Just brilliant. It reminded me of what Sergei Zubov could do.
Adam Fox with the spin-o-rama assist to set up Artemi Panarin who SMOKES his 💯th goal as a #NYRpic.twitter.com/13CXKzmzQ7
But in typical Rangers fashion, they let the Leafs come right back. Over a minute later, Ryan O’Reilly set up Nylander for number 40 to tie the score at two. Nylander slipped away from both Mikkola and Braden Schneider to snipe home his 40th. He’s a very slick player. I think if the Leafs go far, he’ll be a big reason why.
The Maple Leafs went ahead when Noel Acciari was able to get to a loose puck in front and score his 14th with 7:39 left in regulation. On the play, Acciari had a shot stopped by Halak. However, the rebound was in front. While K’Andre Miller took one player, Trouba was too late to stop Acciari from putting in the loose change.
It’s that pair that will have a lot of pressure once Game One rolls around. They’ll have to go up against Jack Hughes’ line. That could be him, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier. Dawson Mercer sometimes plays with Hughes. It’s pick your poison with Nico Hischier centering the second line. They basically have two top scoring lines.
That’s eerily similar to what our team has. It’s gonna be Zibanejad starting between Chris Kreider and Patrick Kane, who still hasn’t made a difference. He better flip the switch on starting Monday or Tuesday in Newark. They need him to produce in this series. I’m not concerned about Tarasenko or Panarin. They have excellent chemistry. It doesn’t matter which center they play with. They’ve been superb with Trocheck. Panarin really finished strong. He’s shooting the puck more and getting results. Keep it going.
Whoever Gallant matches Miller and Trouba against, he’ll have Ryan Lindgren with Fox going up against the other top line. Figure Ruff to try to exploit the match-ups on home ice. He’ll definitely see if he can get his big horses out against our third pair and checking line.
I’ve been on record as saying how much I like the way Barclay Goodrow, Jimmy Vesey, and Motte play. They’re capable of contributing due to their strong work ethic. They can chip pucks in and win board battles while being responsible defensively. But you don’t want them seeing extended time pinned in with Mikkola and Schneider. The Devils are capable of using their speed and skill in transition but can also utilize it to pin opponents in.
This basically feels like a preview. In some aspects, it is. I’ll handle the nuts and bolts this weekend. That’s how big this rivalry is. I tweeted that I never thought we’d ever see Rangers vs. Devils again due to the divisional format. It didn’t feel realistic. But with the Caps and Pens finally missing the playoffs, which means no Ovechkin or Crosby for the first time since 2005-06, it’s finally possible. Here we are.
In terms of the conclusion to game 82, Lafreniere drew a tripping minor on Schenn with 2:48 left. Gallant went for it, going six-on-four. They really tried to set up Zibanejad, who needed one goal for his second 40-goal season. He only got off one decent one-timer that Woll easily stopped. He also had a shot blocked. Both Panarin and Fox forced passes. It didn’t work.
The Leafs made some key clears to kill off the penalty. Marner took a shot at the empty net. He was hoping it would go to get 100 points. He had the same luck as Zibanejad. But the Leafs skated away with the win following Chytil’s disallowed goal. They finished with 111 points. That’s tied for the fourth most in the league. They get the Lightning, who didn’t try very hard down the stretch. Then probably the 135-point Bruins. That’s not much of a reward.
The Rangers finish with a 47-22-13 record. They had 107 points. The fifth most in the Eastern Conference. If it was the old 1-8 format, they’d draw the Leafs. It makes you wonder. Instead, they must go through the Devils. I’m not sure if it’ll be the Hurricanes in the second round. Their goaltending is very shaky. The Islanders have a clear edge. That won’t be easy.
Will it wind up a Battle of Hudson as Hasan pondered? Meaning the old Battle of New York. It could very well happen. Much depends on Mat Barzal, who’s expected to return for the first round.
What we do know is every series in the East. Here we are:
Atlantic Division
(1) Bruins vs. (4) Panthers
(2) Maple Leafs vs. (3) Lightning
Metro Division
(1) Hurricanes vs. (4) Islanders
(2) Devils vs. (3) Rangers
Make your predictions. I’ll have mine this weekend.
Where do you start with tonight? Might as well just start with the video of the day…a true Hollywood ending as the Hughes brothers combined for Luke’s first NHL goal, which just happened to give the Devils a 5-4 OT win over the Capitals. A game where the Devils were down 4-1 no less…but hey, what’s one more insane comeback in a season filled with them? In addition to being a career highlight for Luke Hughes (for the moment), the Devils’ win also gave them a franchise record with their 52nd W of the season, surpassing the 2000-01 Devils. All that team did was go to the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Finals, the year after winning it.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view) the game wound up meaning nothing in terms of the standings since Carolina took an early lead, then withstood a pair of Panther surges in the third period to hold onto a 6-4 win that finally gave them the Metro crown by a single point in the end. So, Armageddon here we come. But at least the Devils salvaged something intangible from a game where it seemed as if the organization was content to let the chips fall where they may.
I already went through being critical in my prior blog (and the comments section) of the Devils’ laissez-faire attitude toward the division, the latest evidence being running out Mackenzie Blackwood for the second time in three games tonight. Though it didn’t really hurt in Boston – despite a bad second goal allowed there – boy did it matter tonight, as Blackwood was quite simply putrid, giving up four goals on eleven shots and finally getting pulled for Akira Schmid when it seemed as if the division was safely out of reach with the Devils down 4-1 and Carolina leading 2-0 through the second period.
I know this organization believes in Blackwood’s ‘upside’ and is desperately still trying to make him a thing but you already had Schmid here because of Vitek Vanecek getting the night off – and quite frankly he’s earned the #2 job throughout the season by any metric except for contract status, you might as well have just started him if you were actually trying to win while rest players. While I never think players try to tank, I do think the organization’s bleh attitude toward the division chase contributed to a rough first half of tonight’s regular season finale.
Maybe putting Schmid in woke the Devils up, because they certainly upped their level after that. Of course, it also helps having an actual NHL goaltender who can make a save. I didn’t bother turning it on till the third period after I saw the lineup, which of course led to a predictable start of the game, but suddenly things got very interesting in Washington thanks to Miles Wood’s goal late in the second period and Erik Haula’s breakaway tally to start the third. Then things got really interesting in Florida as the Panthers scored two quick goals to tie the game in Sunrise. Could the improbable really happen?
Carolina put a quick end to our delusions of grandeur striking back twice and then putting in an empty-netter late in the third to seemingly put that game away, but the Devils to their credit forged on and Dougie Hamilton’s patented bomb from the point tied the game. Hamilton’s goal was the 22nd of the year for the Devils’ triggerman on D, adding to his all-time team record. With the game now headed for OT thanks to Schmid’s heroics and our offense coming to life, we had one final tease in Sunrise as the Panthers scored two goals with an empty net to pull back within one towards the end of regulation, but another empty-net goal from Carolina finally put that game, and the division to bed.
All that was left now for the Devils was to make the best of their final period of the season – and boy, did they do that with Hughes dynamics leading to a fitting end to what’s been a dream regular season. If Luke had a cautiously decent first game, he definitely opened eyes with his second game, playing 21:13 with an assist on Haula’s first goal of the game in the first period, which opened the scoring after Blackwood had already spotted the moribund Caps a 3-0 lead. Of course, his first NHL point was quickly eclipsed as a career highlight by his first NHL goal…with the primary assist coming from none other than Jack. Predictably, Luke is keeping his first goal puck all in the family:
Luke Hughes says the puck will go to his dad, Jim, who has the first goal puck for both Quinn and Jack. #NJDevils#Canucks
Cynically, I think this was the perfect script for Tom Fitzgerald, team doesn’t win the division but goes out on their shield while resting players in the process and having their prized rookie turn star to boot…well almost perfect, if he is still part of the contingent who thinks Blackwood should be the Devils’ #2 going into the playoffs. Hopefully tonight finally ended that delusion but I won’t hold my breath. Now we just wait for the playoff schedule to drop to see when we’re playing.
One more thing I have to throw a wet blanket on because I’ve seen this comment all over the place about how the Devils’ 49-point turnaround from last year to this year is the biggest in NHL history, it’s just simply not factual. San Jose’s 58-point improvement from ’92-93 to ’93-94 is the biggest year-to-year turnaround. The fact those were 84-game seasons (which is why it isn’t listed in certain charts) doesn’t change that fact. Two more games is less than a nine-point difference. Obviously, our turnaround was impressive enough and one of the biggest in NHL history, but let’s not jump the shark on the hype machine here.
Of course, we’ll be doing plenty of shark jumping in the coming days with the hype that’ll ensue on Devils-Rangers plus the added local flavor of the Isles also being in our bracket, and a dangerous opponent for the Hurricanes. Maybe this will be an all Battle of the Hudson bracket in the end. I don’t know how much I’ll be posting in the next few days, and how much I’ll just let Derek take the lead on the nuts and bolts of this series – especially being that I’m going to at least a couple of these games. I’m sure I’ll probably give thoughts at some points in the series but not after every night.
I’ll almost certainly leave the full preview to him but my early tl;dr prediction is Devils in 7 and we’re both in curled balls by the end of the series. I wouldn’t term this prediction as cautious optimism as much as a belief in the Devils after everything they accomplished this season, coupled with a healthy respect (if not total fear) of who we’re playing. Yes, we won three of the four games and took seven points out of eight from the regular season games this year but every one of them were close, wild affairs. I see no reason to think a first-round series between two excellent teams wouldn’t be the same. And because I’m predicting a seven-game series – and probably am not in the minority there – I have to predict Devils in the end because the alternative would be just too icky to think about, from my pov anyway.
It’s the final game of the regular season. For the Rangers, there’s nothing to play for. They’re locked into the third seed in the Metropolitan Division. The only question is who they will play. Either the Devils or the Hurricanes.
That all depends on tonight. With the Devils opting to rest Vitek Vanecek along with a couple of other starters, they’re prioritizing health over winning the division. They still can win it if they beat the Caps and the Hurricanes lose at the Panthers, who also are playing for something. The chance to avoid the Bruins.
While some teams have to decide what’s best to do in Game 82 with the playoffs on deck, you have a situation like the Rangers, who can’t move up. So, why is Gerard Gallant going with the same lineup as Tuesday night? That’s better left for the coach to explain to reporters.
Same #NYR lineup, no one is resting, per Gallant. Harpur the scratch.
There’s a risk. While the Maple Leafs are undoubtedly resting players since they have nothing to play for, there’s still a hockey game to be played. Would you dress Ben Harpur over Ryan Lindgren, who’s looked sharp since returning? What about giving Adam Fox the night off or Jacob Trouba? They’re both gamers. But there’s nothing on the line.
What’s most important in the final game of a long schedule, thanks to how the NHL operates, is to come out healthy. The Rangers can’t afford any injuries in a meaningless 82nd game that’s just for paperwork.
You hope that none of the key players get banged up playing such a game. I can’t imagine Toronto playing that hard. However, they went toe to toe with first round opponent Tampa the other night. They won without top stars, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner. They got great goaltending from Joseph Woll. He again will tend the net later.
Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe is prioritizing the first round rematch against the Lightning. A wise move. Will it finally pay off in a series win for the first time since 2004? That depends on how they play. They’re the better team this time. But we know the playoffs are a whole different animal. They draw the championship proven Lightning. A team that’s struggled down the stretch, and has players injured.
So, does Gallant know something we don’t? Why play Igor Shesterkin tonight? I can understand wanting to keep him sharp. There are a few days off before the first round begins. That’ll be either on Monday or Tuesday. He’s back in form. As long as nothing happens, fine.
Update: It’s Jaroslav Halak in net. Mollie Walker made it seem like it was the exact same lineup. I’m glad Gallant at least opted to rest Shesterkin.
I probably would’ve given Jaroslav Halak the start. He’s been a steady professional backup. Exactly as advertised. The veteran turned around his year following a slow start. Much respect to the elder statesman.
With the puck dropping soon at MSG on Fan Appreciation Night, let’s hope for the best.
While I admit I myself have been ambivalent about the Devils winning the division at times (hence our early exits as a top seed in the late ’90’s and ’00’s), I didn’t expect the team themselves to be this blase about potentially winning a division, especially with the guaranteed home-ice in the second round. With the playoffs set to start Monday or Tuesday – rumor is we’ll be starting Monday based on nothing but ushers telling people see you Monday after the Devils clinched home-ice in the first round on Fan Appreciation night – there should be at least four days of rest before the crucible begins.
It was puzzling enough when the Devils threw Mackenzie Blackwood out in Boston five nights ago against a stronger team rather than play him against the Blue Jackets at home two nights prior, but clearly we’re acting like a team prioritizing rest by sitting Vitek Vanecek for the second time in three games tonight with other guys allegedly being rotated out of the lineup as well. Which I don’t even have a big problem with, until it looks like you’re manipulating the situation a la sitting Vitek against Boston instead of Columbus.
If you wanted to be a cynic you’d say they wanted to play the Rangers – who they’ve taken seven of eight points from – over the Panthers, who they lost two of three to during the regular season and whose physical game has given us fits. It was fun to see Luke Hughes’ debut and it looks like he’ll play again tonight, which is nice as a fan but on the other hand if you’re icing your ‘best lineup’ it’s not likely including a guy who just got here five minutes ago, doesn’t know the system and has only played one NHL game.
Do I want the Devils to play guys who are hurt, no but that’s not what’s happening in most of these cases other than maybe Erik Haula who’s missed the last couple of games at least and Mike McLeod who’s clearly injured. Haula and McLeod both missing led to us playing 11-7 the other night, which should never be a first choice otherwise.
In spite of the fact the Devils have had better success against the Rangers than the Panthers in the regular season, I’d never count those chickens in a rivalry series – 1997 being a prime example of why. Manipulating a matchup by being blase about winning the division either because you think it’s an easier matchup, or more cynically because you want to make more profit on ticket sales just speaks of testing the hockey gods. What would be ironic is if the Devils with arguably their third best goalie and some backups in still beat a Caps team that’s clearly got one foot on the airplane home with two wins in their last twelve games, and the Canes lost. Then we’d get to have our cake and eat it too…unless you’re in ticket sales.
Whatever the organization’s wants, I’ll still be watching the results of both games and rooting for the division. If Carolina wins and we play the Rangers, then let’s get on with Armageddon. I’d hate for it to be decided if Carolina lost and we couldn’t get the result we needed based on getting cute with our lineup though. I also appreciate protecting guys due to injury, especially your starting goalie but it looks farcical when you have twenty guys on a hockey roster and can only sit three or four anyway, to sit specific guys based on rest while Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton will still be playing their regular shifts. I wouldn’t mind going with the B team if you could literally go with the entire B team but that isn’t the case here. Having three or four mid-level lineup changes just seems a bit cute for the sake of being cute.
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Battle Of Hudson 
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