Scott Stevens vs. Rangers

Lore & Background

The rivalry began when the Colorado Rockies moved to New Jersey to become the Devils. For the relocation, they were required to pay massive indemnities to the Rangers, New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers for the right to share the New Jersey market. Despite the Devils' overall Stanley Cup playoff superiority since the 1990s, the first three playoff series between these teams were all Rangers victories. Their first playoff meeting occurred during the 1992 Stanley Cup playoffs, when the Presidents' Trophy-winning Rangers survived a seven-game Patrick Division semifinals series with the Devils.

Reader's Guide

The rivalry's most famous moments center around the 1994 and 1995 seasons. In 1994, the Rangers won the Stanley Cup after a seven-game Eastern Conference finals series against the Devils, highlighted by Mark Messier's guarantee and hat-trick in game six and Stephane Matteau's double-overtime winner in game seven. In 1995, the Devils won the Stanley Cup, sweeping the Detroit Red Wings, after eliminating the Philadelphia Flyers in the conference finals. The teams also met in the 1997 conference semifinals (Rangers won in five games) and the 2006 conference quarterfinals (Devils swept). In the 2008 conference quarterfinals, the Rangers won in five games, featuring the Sean Avery–Martin Brodeur incident.

Did You Know?

• The Devils and Rangers are two of the three teams that play in the New York City metropolitan area, the other being the New York Islanders.
• From February 17, 1997, to March 31, 2001, the Devils had an unbeaten streak against the Rangers spanning 23 regular season games (15–0–8).
• In 2006, the Devils took the Atlantic Division title from the Rangers by ending the season with one more point than New York, after the Rangers lost their final five games.
• The Stanley Cup was awarded on the Rangers' side of the Hudson River in 1994 (Madison Square Garden) and on the Devils' side in 1995 (Meadowlands).