Rangers vs Devils: Failed renewal of the Hudson River rivalry
Rivalries are formulated by the two P’s; proximity and playoffs. The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils Hudson River rivalry is no different, and the lack of postseason meetings has caused it to suffer recently.
It is hard to believe that it has been almost eight full years since the New York Rangers and Devils clashed during the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. Following Adam Henrique’s game-winning goal, coming just over one minute into the first overtime of the sixth and final game of the series, the Hudson River rivalry has gone into a downward spiral.
After a long lull in meaningful games between the bitter rivals since their stadium series match-up in 2014, many thought there would be a rejuvenation after the two teams were slated to pick atop the 2019 NHL draft. Rangers fans were set on selecting Kaapo Kakko after his brilliance at the 2019 World Championships, but the Devils lack of certainty at number one sent panic waves through Rangerstown.
Ultimately, the draft would pan out as anticipated, with Jack Hughes being selected by New Jersey with the first overall pick and Kakko falling into the Rangers’ lap at second overall. Rangers fans rejoiced and the tri-state area declared to rivalry to be back, yet the 2019-2020 NHL season meetings between the two teams did not live up to the hype.
#NYR fans ROCKING @TheGarden when Kakko was announced! #NYRDraft pic.twitter.com/m0trr9ptsH
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) June 22, 2019
In the four meetings between the Devils and Rangers this season, fans got to witness the Kakko and Hughes showdown just twice due to injuries to the Devils’ first selection. The matchup which was pivotal to the fans’ enjoyment of the rivalry failed to be as captivating as everyone thought. In the two games which saw the young phenoms faceoff, Hughes would average just 13:17 of ice time while Kakko would manage 14:57; both were Devils victories.
On top of the limited roles each of the young stars had in the rivalry showdowns, both Hughes and Kakko were in the midst of disappointing first seasons with their new clubs. Hughes had just seven goals and 14 assists which were good for 21 points to go along with -26 rating in 61 games. Kakko, who played five more games, managed just 10 goals and 13 assists, totaling 23 points with a -26 rating as well.
But the Hudson River rivalry should be able to overcome a pair of struggling players, shouldn’t it? Well, unfortunately, it has not, and the reasons for that go beyond the makeup of the rosters.
Why the rivalry has struggled
Remember the two P’s mentioned early on in this article? Well, we all know the proximity will always be there, but the playoffs have not. Many people would agree with the time elapsed between the start of the 1993-1994 season and the end of the 1994-1995 season was the height of this storied rivalry.
In those two years, the Rangers would defeat the Devils in the Eastern Conference finals en route to a Stanley Cup, followed by the Devils grabbing a Cup of their own the very next campaign. That intensity that was seen between two phenomenal teams will be the only thing to rejuvenate this rivalry.
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Instead, we have seen just four playoff meetings over the last 25 seasons, while also watching both franchises fall from the top of the league to being Metropolitan division bottom dwellers amidst their rebuilds. The Rangers seem to be ahead of the Devils rebuild, but that means the lack of competitiveness between the teams will continue.
Since December of 2017, the two sides have clashed 11 times, with nine of those meetings being decided by two or more goals. This season alone, the four games were all relatively one-sided, despite each team winning two. The inability to create late-game drama has caused a lessened intensity between the two teams both on the ice and in the crowd.
Despite the downward trends that plague the Hudson River rivalry, there still is optimism that it can once again flourish. Attendance soars during these games, with the arenas at a minimum of 93 percent capacity for each tilt, according to ESPN.
With the Rangers on the rise due to their plethora of young talent and handful of superstar caliber players, and the Devils starting to piece together a young core for their future as well, both teams could restore their winning ways very soon.
Back in 2012, before New York and New Jersey meeting in the conference finals, there was a game that exemplified what this rivalry could be. This game brought passion, physicality, and tumultuous applause from the fans, all just one second after the puck dropped.
Yes, the game has taken a turn away from these types of melees, but the hatred these two teams had for each other was palpable, something that has not returned to this rivalry in almost eight years. As the two teams continue to develop and trend upward, this intensity will be brought back, and I for one cannot wait for its return.