Adam Henrique’s goal in overtime in Game 6 that sent the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals stands out. Likewise the atmosphere in the buildings, the Prudential Center and Madison Square Garden.
But as far as the details go, this is where the Rangers forward gets blurry. He was two weeks past his 21st birthday when the Rangers and Devils last met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He had never played an NHL regular-season game.
“I just got out of college and it was a whirlwind for me, so it’s hard to look back and appreciate the depth of that rivalry at the time,” Kreider said. “It’s a great rivalry and it’s going to be good hockey, competitive hockey, but it’s hard for me to look back and really pinpoint certain things because I was just a wide-eyed rookie.”
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Kreider is now a accomplished veteran who knows exactly what to expect when the Rangers and Devils play Tuesday (7:00 p.m. ET; TBS, SN360, TVAS2, MSG2, MSGSN2, MSGSN).
As noted by Kreider, this part of the “Battle of the Hudson” will look different than the previous six (1992, 1994, 1997, 2006, 2008 and 2012).
“I feel like a fossil saying this, but the game has changed,” Kreider said.
In the 2012 series, the Rangers and Devils combined averaged 4.83 goals per game, matching that year’s NHL playoff average of 4.84.
The Devils have averaged 3.52 goals per game this season, ranking fifth in the NHL. Rangers finished 12th with 3.33. The NHL average was 6.36. Last season’s playoff average was 6.31.
These two teams have the biggest difference they’ve felt in 11 years: speed.
“It’s going to be a racy, fast series,” said Kreider. “They skate well. We skate well.”
Video: Devils vs Rangers Hudson River rivalry preview
The Devils’ team speed will be the biggest challenge for the Rangers, as it has been in their four regular-season games, three of which were won by New Jersey.
“They like to build speed through the neutral zone, so the big thing is trying to slow them down,” said Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren. “Do not let [Jack] Hughes and [Jesper] Bratt carries the puck through the neutral zone, building speed and playing against the onslaught. Of course that will happen, they are good players but you have to slow them down as much as possible and hit them when you can.
“On the other hand, we have to make sure that we don’t flip pucks, that we handle the puck wisely and don’t increase their speed.”
Protecting yourself from the Rangers’ abilities, especially when they use them after generating speed from the onslaught, is the biggest challenge on the New Jersey game plan.
“They don’t need as many shots as other teams,” said Devils coach Lindy Ruff. “I think they have some really good shooters if you look at that [Mika] Zibanejad, [Artemi] Panarin, [Vladimir] Tarasenko, [Patrick] Kane. Your baiting game is dangerous. We have to make sure we’re conscientious about our puck decisions. We have to make sure we’re chasing hard, taking away time and ice, and those high-end opportunities are at a bare minimum.
The Devils have to go head-to-head with Igor Shesterkin, who won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender last season and has been his best this season with 12 wins, an average of 1.98 goals conceded and .934 saves in his past 16 starts.
“I’m feeling good,” Shesterkin said.
If there’s one key advantage for Rangers in this series, it’s in goal with Shesterkin due to his award-winning lineage, on-track performance and playoff experience after scoring 10 with a 2.59 GAA and a .929 save rate: 9 won the playoffs last year.
Devils goalie Vitek Vanecek had a strong season with 33 wins, a 2.45 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 52 games (48 starts). But he has played three NHL playoff games, won one, and posted a 4.25 GAA and an .855 save ratio.
“We know he’s got his game in a pretty good place,” Ruff said. “So you’re looking at the first opportunity, I think what’s going to be more important is trying to get the second opportunity through scrambles and rebounds because when he’s in his game the first shot often doesn’t beat him.”
Experience could be a factor, and it’s strong on the Rangers’ side with their 24 active roster who have played a total of 866 NHL playoff games against the Devils’ 25-player total of 479, of which Ondrej Palat accounts for 138.
Jack Hughes, Dawson Mercer, Yegor Sharangovich, Michael McLeod, Jesper Boqvist, Kevin Bahl and Luke Hughes have never played an NHL playoff game for the Devils. Bratt played one. Damon Severson has four. Nico Hischier and Miles Wood have five.
Every Rangers player expected to play in this series has played at least 16 playoff games.
“Obviously a lot of our guys have never been in a game, so I think they have a little advantage from the start because their guys experienced it and were there,” Ruff said. “But we’re a bunch of rebels for the most part… Young rebels ready to go.”
But the Rangers know better than to make a fuss of experience. They were the inexperienced team that faced the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round last season, laden with playoff veterans and Stanley Cup championship rings.
New York defeated Pittsburgh in seven games.
“What did I say last year, remember?” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “Pittsburgh had more experience. It doesn’t mean anything. I really believe in it. It’s who’s ready to play in the next two weeks.”