Scott Niedermayer vs. Rangers

Lore & Background

The Devils defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. New Jersey forward Zach Parise scored twice as New Jersey took game one 5–3. After Tampa Bay evened the series with a 3–2 victory in game two and won game three 3–2, Devils centre Scott Gomez scored the overtime winner at 12:54 in game four to tie the series. New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur made 31 saves in his 22nd career playoff shutout as the Devils won game five 3–0. Devils forward Brian Gionta scored the series-winning goal in game six as New Jersey took the series four games to two with a 3–2 win.

Reader's Guide

The 2007 playoffs used a best-of-seven format with a 2–2–1–1–1 schedule. The top eight teams in each conference qualified, with division winners seeded 1–3. The NHL used re-seeding after each round, matching the highest remaining seed against the lowest. Home ice advantage went to the higher seed, and for the Stanley Cup Final, to the team with the better regular season record.

Did You Know?

• This was the last time all three New York metropolitan area teams (the Devils, Islanders and Rangers) made the playoffs in the same year until 2023.
• For the first time in NHL history, neither of the two teams that played in the previous year's Stanley Cup Final (the Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers) qualified for the playoffs.
• This was the only time that the Atlanta Thrashers qualified for the playoffs in their twelve years in Georgia.