The Devils got the last laugh in their playoff series against the Rangers, shutting out their crosstown rivals 4-0 in Game 7 on Monday, but there is still some unfinished business to handle.
The team is searching for a Rangers fan who was caught on video sucker-punching a member of the Devils' "Woo Crew" in the third period. The team employee was holding a sign celebrating New Jersey's third goal of the night.
Video shows the fan walking up the stairs of his section and swinging at the employee. Considering the Devils had just taken a 3-0 lead with under six minutes remaining, the fan might have been on his way out of the arena.
MORE: Akira Schmid's shutout propels Devils to Game 7 win over Rangers
The team employee tweeted video of the incident, asking if anyone can identify the fan.
got sucker punched in the face twice by a rangers fan, at my job, doing my job, celebrating a devils goal, if anyone know who he is pls dm pic.twitter.com/dlHUsfbsXc
— x - semaj (@semajmcl3od) May 2, 2023
A different angle shows the punch even clearer. The Woo Crew member didn't appear to be looking in the fan's direction before the punch came in, and the fan continued to engage with him after the punch.
Here is another angle pic.twitter.com/gwNj49ihft
— ChrisTine (@christinetaor) May 2, 2023
The Devils released a statement on Tuesday, saying, "There is no tolerance for that behavior at our arena, and we are investigating the incident to identify the suspect."
It was not clear if local police were involved in the process.
The Devils describe the Woo Crew as "an integral part of the Devils fan experience responsible for strengthening the relationship between the fans and the brand." Part of the group's job is to fire up the crowd after a goal, and that seemed to be what the member was doing in the video before he was punched.
Game 7 marked the Devils' first playoff series win since their Eastern Conference Final victory over the Rangers in 2012.
