Hockey fans in the Tri-State area, we have a playoff edition of the Hudson River rivalry.
The Devils and Rangers are set to meet in the first round of the 2023 NHL playoffs. New Jersey finished second in the Metropolitan Division, while the Rangers ended the regular season in third.
This is the first time since 2012 that the franchises are meeting in the postseason. The Devils defeated the Rangers four games to two in the conference finals that season.
The Devils are in the postseason for the first time since 2018, and this is only their second playoff berth since losing in the 2012 Stanley Cup Final to the Kings. The rebuild has been long in Newark, but the Devils took a surprising step forward this season with its young core.
The Rangers are in the playoffs for a second season in a row after taking the leap out of its rebuild last year. New York is aiming to build off its strong showing in 2022; the team reached the conference finals before losing to the Lightning in six games.
New Jersey and New York had four close games this season, with two of them going to overtime. This will be a tightly contested series with plenty of bad blood.
NHL PLAYOFF PICTURE: Updated standings, bracket, matchups & key dates
Here's what you need to know about the series between the Devils and Rangers:
Key storyline: Which kids will perform the best?
We're not talking about the players' children. The Devils and Rangers have enjoyed tons of success this season because of their young players, and they will play major roles in this series.
New Jersey has the youngest roster in the NHL, with an average age of 24.86. New York isn't much older, with its average age of 26.31 the eighth-youngest in the league. The Devils and Rangers are the two youngest teams in this year's postseason.
Four of the Devils' top five scorers are 24 or younger: Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt and Dawson Mercer. The offense relies heavily on the youngsters, and they have delivered so far this season.
The Rangers' top forwards are older, but New York also has the "Kid Line" of Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko. They were critical in the team's run to the conference finals last year. In addition, four of the team's top six defenseman are 25 or younger: Adam Fox, K'Andre Miller, Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider.
Both teams will be relying on their youth at different points in the series, either to come up with a late goal or hold down the fort late in a close game.
Devils vs. Rangers playoff schedule, TV channels
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV/Result |
| Tue., April 18 | at New Jersey | FINAL | Rangers 5, Devils 1 |
| Thu., April 20 | at New Jersey | FINAL | Rangers 5, Devils 1 |
| Sat., April 22 | at New York | FINAL | Devils 2, Rangers 1 (OT) |
| Mon., April 24 | at New York | FINAL | Devils 3, Rangers 1 |
| Thu., April 27 | at New Jersey | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2 |
| Sat., April 29 | at New York | TBD | TBD |
| *Mon., May 1 | at New Jersey | TBD | TBD |
* If necessary
Devils vs. Rangers odds
According to Sports Interaction, the Devils are a slight favorite in the first-round series against the Rangers.
Devils: -120
Rangers: -105
Odds provided by Sports Interaction
In the U.S., Bet 365 also has the Devils as the slight betting favorite to win the first-round series over the Rangers.
Devils: -125
Rangers: +105
Odds provided by Bet 365
Devils vs. Rangers prediction
This series has the potential to be a ton of fun.
The Rangers have a top-three defense; the Devils have a top-five offense. The Rangers are ranked seventh on the power play; the Devils are ranked seventh on the penalty kill.
This series will require at least six games and likely will go the full seven. The edge here goes to the team with the more reliable goaltending and more experience.
The 2023 playoffs will be a great steppingstone for the Devils as they seek to become annual contenders, but a deep run won't happen this year.
Prediction: Rangers in seven.
