On March 11, 2024, the New Jersey Devils faced the New York Rangers for the third time. The Devils got dominated in the first two matchups, and they were trying to save their season after the acquisitions of Jake Allen and Kaapo Kahkonen. It was a long-shot effort by Tom Fitzgerald to save a season on the brink. Then, the Devils got beaten by the Rangers again. Mika Zibanejad and Erik Gustafsson scored in the second period, and the Devils didn't get a goal until Simon Nemec scored with just 2:30 left in the game.
This loss put the Devils at 20 points behind the Rangers, but more importantly, it put them six points out of the last Wild Card spot with many teams pushing for the spot. The Devils needed a miracle after that loss, and it didn't happen. It was officially a lost season, and it was made even worse when they blew a 3-2 third-period lead to officially get swept by the Rangers.
This season, it's flipped. Not only have the Devils won both their Rangers matchups, by they've scored 10 total goals, while the Rangers have just one goal combined. It's been total domination, with the Devils holding the Rangers to 12 shots, and putting them under hockey .500 for the first time this season.
The New Jersey Devils have a chance to really put the New York Rangers in a terrible spot
Since this loss, the Rangers have dropped four of their last six games. The season is swirling down the drain, and nobody in MSG can figure out how to stop the swirl. A loss on Thursday could put the Rangers six points out of a playoff spot. That's hardly the type of deficit that's insurmountable, but it could change how the Rangers look at this season.
See, most expect the Rangers to re-introduce Matt Rempe to the lineup. He's their "wild card" to get back into the season. The last time he was playing, the Rangers beat the Dallas Stars, one of the best teams in the West. Of course, he also had a hit that got him suspended for eight games, but they'll just ignore that part.
If the Devils do all this with Rempe in the lineup, the Rangers might feel they are out of options. They are trying to make a massive move, including a push for J.T. Miller, but they might pivot to selling their team for parts.
So while the Devils can't ruin the Rangers season like their Hudson River Rival did to them, they could force them to make even harder decisions that they already have.