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A History of Game 7: Devils and Rangers Face Off in Ultimate Clash

By Michael Cohen
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 29: Akira Schmid #40 of the New Jersey Devils reacts to a third period goal by Barclay Goodrow #21 of the New York Rangers in Game Six of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 29, 2023 in New York, New York. The Rangers defeated the Devils 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

It all comes down to this. The New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers square off in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals tonight at the Prudential Center in Newark. Everything is on the table tonight with a trip to the East Semi’s against the Carolina Hurricanes at stake. 

This has been a wild series. Chris Kreider (six goals in six games) and Devils’ goalie Akira Schmid (3-1 record, 1.72 GAA) have been the standout performers of this series for both squads, and it will mostly likely come down to how these two match-up against one another that will determine a winner of this game and series. 

Schmid is a big reason why we are still playing this series. After the first two games, New York had a 2-0 series lead, and outscored the Devils 10-2, with veteran Vitek Vanecek struggling to keep the Rangers out of the net.

The decision to make the switch was a bold one by Devils Head Coach Lindy Ruff, but, so far, it has worked for New Jersey.

As for the Rangers, they must rely on their veterans to get this done. They traded for Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko for a reason, and those two must step up big tonight. Also Igor Shesterkin must have one of his very best nights in front of the net.

What’s the history like for these two squads in Game 7’s? Let’s look.

  • Rangers Game 7 History

    The New York Rangers love Game 7. They are 11-6 all time in this kind of elimination game, and have won eight of their last nine Game 7 match-ups. Last year they played two Game 7’s in the postseason and won them both.

  • Devils Game 7 History

    The New Jersey Devils are 7-7 all time in Game 7, and 25-23 in the close out game of a series. The last time the Devils played in a Game 7, it was in 2012 when Adam Henrique scored the game winner against the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal.

  • Devils vs. Rangers Game 7 in 1992

    Let’s hit the way back machine to May 1, 1992 — exactly 21 years ago to the day, the Rangers knocked the Devils out of the playoffs with a dominating 8-4 win in  — at the time was called — the Prince of Wales Conference Quarterfinals. Mark Messier would light the lamp twice, while Brian Leech and Adam Graves also scored for the Rangers.

  • Matteau! Mattaeu! Matteau!

    All I have to do is echo the famous words uttered by Howie Rose for you know what this game was all about. Stephane Matteau scored the game winner for the Rangers to beat the Devils in the Conference Finals, and send the Blue Shirts back to the Stanley Cup in 1994. We all know what happened next as the Rangers won the Cup over Vancouver. The Devils did get even of sorts, as the loss jumpstarted a dynasty as the Devils won three of the next six Stanley Cups in 1995, 1999 and 2000, before falling to Colorado in 2001.

     

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