The Devils finished off the Flyers Tuesday night in an authorizing five games. Defeating the orange-clad Philadelphians demonstrated the Devils are more than the common expectations of a team finishing sixth in such a strong conference. The Devils have now eliminated two teams that concluded the regular season with better records. But with two impressive series under their belts, the Devils and their army of fans must now loom anxiously over whether it will be the New York Rangers or the Washington Capitals in the next round.
As the Rangers and Capitals remain occupied with each other for a seventh and final game, it is time to consider how the Devils will fare against either team if and when they advance. Despite a stellar performance against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Capitals and Rangers pose their own advantages and disadvantages in facing. Let’s delve into why the weights of the scale tend to dip and rise when discussing New York or Washington as a future opponent.
Let’s imagine Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals were to be the Devils next-round opponent, first. The Devils finished the season 3-1 against the aptly-named team from our nation’s capital. Amongst those three wins were two wins on the road in that same city we call our capital. Attached to these road victories was an impressive 5-0 shutout on as well as a 3-2 shootout in the Devils’ favor. Zach Parise led all Devils in goals in those four meetings (4,) and Patrik Elias topped all Devils in total points scored (5, including four assists.) These victories look good on paper or on web-link for the Devils; however, there is plenty of perspective to consider about Washington being the fellow, Eastern Conference finalist.
If the Devils were to play the Capitals in the next round, their schedule would include more games at home than away. The Devils better regular season record would grant them four of seven games at home, and each road victory against the Capitals this regular season saw Johann Hedberg in front of the Devils’ net. The profound play of Martin Brodeur in the initial two series has rendered Hedberg very few minutes played. Other than 37 minutes granted to him in Game 3 against the Panthers, it’s been all-Marty as far as expectations go for the Devils’ goal tending. Martin did earn a win in the two teams’ first meeting on December 23rd, but regardless of who the Devils’ goalie was during the regular season, the team (as a collective) has not yet faced Capitals’ young phenom, Braden Holtby.
Holtby, who played only seven regular season games for the ‘Caps, has played a vital role in the Capitals’ earlier upset over the Bruins. Much can be credited to him while pushing a Game 7 with the Rangers, and he has a 93.5 save-percentage these playoffs stopping 428 of 456 opposing shots on goal. The Devils should consider themselves alert about the offense the Capitals present simultaneously. Ovechkin has five goals so far, and left wing Jason Chimera has four goals this postseason. Chimera’s four playoff goals this year matches his tally in four meetings against the Devils during four regular season meetings.
Now, let’s look at the Rangers. The Devils and the New York Rangers are far from strangers in regular season contention or in playoff contention. The thirst for each other’s blood dates back for at least two decades, and Martin Brodeur’s earliest playoff experiences were in critical games against the team. There may not be the likes of Mike Richter or Mark Messier on this year’s Rangers team, but if the 2011-2012 regular season is either a consolation or a reminiscence, the Devils split six meetings with them.
Nowadays, the Devils must contend with the likes of Marian Gaborik at right wing and star-goalie, Henrik Lundqvist. Each team was quite evenly matched on a variety of levels during the regular season, but the first-place Rangers had a slight edge with goals scored and shots on goal. The Rangers took 146 shots on goal to the Devils 145, and they scored 14 times the Devils 12. Each team was 2-1 at home (or 1-2 on the road, vice-versa.) Though Gaborik led the team in goals and points during the regular season, it was left wing Carl Hagelin who scored the most points against the Devils. Hagelin scored eight points from six assists and two goals in four games against New Jersey. Lundqvist, who finished the season tied with Phoenix’s Mike Smith for the lead in save percentage, won three of five decisions he was credited for against the Devils. The Devils were victorious via shootout against Rangers’ backup Martin Biron in the only game Lundqvist missed any time versus the Devils.
Penalty killing/scoring showed not much more of a differential between either team. Nonetheless, it is areas the Devils held a slighter advantage during the regular season. The Devils were 2 of 18 on power play opportunities against the Rangers, and their prominent regular season penalty-kill was evident stopping 13 of 14 power play opportunities for the Rangers. The Devils have a higher power play percentage as of now in the playoffs with a 20.9 goal-percentage, and the Rangers are actually higher in penalty killing percentage with 82.2% to the Devils 73.9%.
While facing the Capitals would hypothetically give the Devils an additional home game, facing the Rangers means going cross-Hudson for potentially four games at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers and the Capitals do know of one player who puts the Devils at an advantage all their own-Ilya Kovalchuk. Kovi has sent both teams to the locker rooms in defeat from game-winning shootout goals. Kovalchuk’s teammates and fans alike are hoping he pours on some more for the Devils next opponent.
Though the Devils are searing hot after their series against the Flyers, they must keep the stove on for whichever team they face for the finals start on Monday. Practice may be the only way to keep the momentum until they discover who their opponent may be, but if need be, so be it. Both Washington and New York are strong supporters of their home team, and either team who advances will surely be riding their own momentum from a Game 7 win.
If the Devils maintain the rhythm portrayed in the last series against Philadelphia, it will make for one hot arena playing in New York, Washington, or at home in Newark.