Pucks and Pitchforks
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3 Reasons New Jersey Devils Fans Shouldn’t Be Worried About Game 1 Loss

By Nick Villano

Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers checks Ondrej Palat #18 of the New Jersey Devils during the second period of Game One in the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers checks Ondrej Palat #18 of the New Jersey Devils during the second period of Game One in the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86): Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /

3. History

The New Jersey Devils have a lot of history blowing big games in the playoffs. There are plenty of times where there was a necessary bounce back. Just look at the Devils-Rangers series in 2012. The Devils lost Game 1 of that series 3-0. We’re sure Rangers fans were celebrating in the streets after that game, too. The Devils bounced back with a Game 2 win.

In the Cup Final that season, the Devils lost Game 3 4-0. After two overtime losses, the Devils looked cooked. They went on to win the next two games. Who knows what would have happened if the major on Steve Bernier was never called, but that’s for another time.

In 2003, the Devils got demolished in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. They came back in Game 7 and took care of business. In 2001, the Devils lost 5-0 to the Colorado Avalanche. Some likely called the series at that point, but it ended up going seven games.

dark. Next. 3 Keys To Victory Versus New York Rangers

There are games from just last season that prove the point. The Tampa Bay Lightning lost their first game of the postseason 5-0 to the Toronto Maple Leafs. We all know how that ended. They dispatched the Maple Leafs in seven games, and they ended up winning the Eastern Conference again. This isn’t the end all be all. It’s one game, and the Devils can easily bounce back. They lost home-ice advantage, but they play better on the road anyway.

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