The New Jersey Devils clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018 and are set to face the experienced New York Rangers in the first round. The Devils finished the regular season with 112 points, which is five more than the Rangers’ 107.
The Devils and Rangers squared off in the “Hudson River Rivalry” four times this season, and the Devils won the season series, 3-0-1. New Jersey had a +65 goal differential compared to the Rangers’ +58. The Devils lead in most categories when paired against the Rangers, aside from playoff experience.
Only four players on that Devils Stanley Cup Playoff roster five years ago are on the active roster now. The holdovers include Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Miles Wood, and Damon Severson. Even then, that 2018 postseason was all their first time experiencing brutal, physical, pressuring playoff hockey.
The Rangers recently acquired some guy by the name of Patrick Kane. Kane, who played his whole career with the Chicago Blackhawks before the trade, has played in 11 total playoffs. Kane has more than enough playoff experience, and his veteran leadership is accompanied by Chris Kreider, Artemi Panari, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Mika Zibanejad, who have all played in at least five different playoffs.
Devils General Manager, Tom Fitzgerald, acquired veteran Ondrej Palat last offseason to prepare for a moment like this. Palat has played in 138 playoff games in his career, all of them being with the Tampa Bay Lightning. While competing in 138 playoff contests, Palat managed to win two Stanley Cups. Analyzing this, we can tell that Palat knows what it is like to make a deep playoff run, not once but twice.
This season, Palat has severely underperformed while catering to a groin injury. Palat put up 23 points in 49 games, eight goals, and 15 assists. Palat previously said to NJ.com’s Ryan Novozinsky, “Obviously, I want to have more goals, more points, but we’re in the playoffs. The real season starts.”
Ondrej Palat is disappointed with his season.
— Ryan Novozinsky (@ryannovo62) April 17, 2023
He had eight goals, 23 points and a brutal groin injury that kept him out for months.
But, as he noted Saturday, the #NJDevils are finally in the playoffs –– which he called "the real season."https://t.co/7EAJr2oqk3
The Devils will need Palat to step up if they want to make it past the first round. Yes, the Rangers have more experience, which makes the Broadway boys superior to the Devils in this series. However, if Hughes, Bratt, Hischier, and Hamilton can play the way they have been playing and not let their nerves takeover, the Devils can do some damage.
I am taking the Devils to win this series in six games. The Devils will win their first two games at home and go up 2-0. I then believe the Rangers will win one out of two at Madison Square Garden, resulting in a 3-1 series lead in favor of the youngbloods. The Devils are going to drop game five at home and beat the Rangers in New York City in game 6, resulting in a 4-2 series win for the Devils.
The Devils have exceeded expectations and given the state of New Jersey pride and something to cheer for, for the first time since 2018.