Reboots have been all the rage in Hollywood over the last 15 years. Take an existing franchise, change around some of the players, update some characters for the modern times while showcasing some legacy characters that the audience will remember. Reboots have one rule: Remind me what I liked while giving me something new. Well the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils rivalry has been dormant for the last 11 years since the Devils came out victorious in 2012 beating the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The six game defeat still stings Rangers’ fans who saw Devils forward Adam Henrique deposit a loose puck in OT of Game 6 to finish off their cross river rival. However a LOT has changed in 11 years…
Stars to watch: In all rebooted franchises, you need a legacy character to mentor (or challenge) the new protagonist. While the Rangers have Chris Kreider, the last remaining player from the 2012 ECF, Patrick Kane fits the bill for this role. Kane requested a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks in February and debuted on Broadway March 2nd. Though he was slow to integrate in the Rangers locker room, Kane has started to blossom. On a line with Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, Kane scored 5 goals and added 7 assists while carrying the load on Power Play 1. The former Conn Smythe Trophy winner - only American forward to win it - Kane has something to prove. His last series won was the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals though his playoff production remained a point-per-game after that. Make no mistake, Kane wanted to come to NY and now the spotlight is on "Showtime" in a BIG WAY. He’ll have more pressure on him than Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and recently acquired Vladimir Tarasenko. Can Kane rise to the occasion one more time? Or will he fade away like Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi?
As far as needing a new lead character, look no further than the Devils' Jack Hughes. The former 2019 top overall draft pick struggled to stay healthy in his first two seasons as he conformed to the NHL game, but all the talent he has surfaced last season when he made his first NHL All Star Game. This season, Hughes took the next step. Setting a pace for 100 points (97 points in 77 games), Hughes has been every bit the player the Devils knew they were getting and more! During the Devils early season winning streak, Hughes was asked “what the Devils can do better”, the Devils star wryly said, “I mean…we’re on a 9 game heater. I think we’re doing okay…” While Hughes did have his “yearly injury”, the NJ center quickly returned to lead the Devils to the top of the division before the Carolina Hurricane usurped them. Can Hughes be the hero of this new rivalry…or…the great new villain? It depends on who you ask.
Goaltending: Casting the role of goaltender hasn’t been a problem for the New York Rangers in 20 years. While Henrik Lundqvist took centerstage for 15 years, Igor Shesterkin slid right in as the perfect understudy. Coming off a 2021-22 Vezina Trophy winning year, the Czar of Broadway would be hard pressed to repeat the numbers that he put up in that year. His 22-23 numbers are pedestrian compared to the rock star numbers from last year, but after a horrendous (and frankly concerning February), Shesterkin posted his best month of the season with an 8-3 record, 0.932 save % and a 2.08 Goals Against Average for March. All signs point to Igor being Igor again, but his 1-3 record against New Jersey does raise an eyebrow worthy of Spock (either Leonard Nimoy or Zachary Quinto).
Though it’s not Jason Voorhees in net for the Devils, their net was settled after plenty of rewrites to the script for this season. 11 years ago, Marty Broduer held the fort for New Jersey - as he did since 1994- but the Devils didn’t solidify this net until Vitek Vanecek wrestled the job away from Mackenzie Blackwood. The former Capitals net minder is having his best year ever with a 33-11-4 record and a career best 2.45 GAA, but after posting a GOD-LIKE 0.932 save % in January, Vanecek has’t been above 0.900 in a full month since. He is establishing a career high in games with the crowning number that he plays and it’s going to be his net in the playoffs. His record since January has been 12-6-2 with a GAA over 2.75. While one of those wins was against the Rangers, Vanecek is hoping his 3-0-1 record agains the Rangers will hold up.
Under-the-Radar players: It’s hard to believe that the SECOND overall pick from 2019, Kaapo Kakko is an under-the-radar player but he is. Thanks to the Blueshirts acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane, the Finnish winger is definitely below everyone’s radar. As Kakko established new career highs in goals, assists, points and most importantly GAMES PLAYED, the RW on the “Kid Line” has been ramping up his production in the last month, getting ready for the playoffs. In the last 2 months, Kakko has 16 points in his last two months, which isn’t bad for a player averaging 14:29 over that time. Kakko has been motivated in the past vs Jersey, but he only has 6 points to show for his efforts. If he can get going - BIG IF - Jersey can’t match-up against him.
If you’re going to cast a minor supporting character to make a big impression, the Devils can simply say "Dawson Mercer". The 2020 1st round pick has 55 points this season; exceeding his 42 last year and he is noticeable on every shift. His high motor and dogged determination is one of the reasons Jersey would not send him to San Jose for Timo Meier. Meier arrived anyway without Mercer (or Alexander Holtz or Yegor Sharangovich) going the other way. Mercer has turned it on with 22 points in Feb / March and If he continues to add to his point-per-game production agains the Blueshirts, Jersey could roll over them. If the Rangers want to win this series, they’ll need to slow him down.
The New York Rangers will win if… Experience will likely be the driving force, but it may come down to goaltending and defense. While the Rangers can match the Devils firepower up front, it’s unclear if the Rangers defense can handle the Devils speed. If that’s the case, the Rangers will need BIG save after BIG SAVE by Igor Shesterkin. He started his first playoff awkwardly, but settled in to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes. Shesterkin has been regaining his old form and if he reaches "full power" in the playoffs, the Devils could get frustrated if he stymies them.
The New Jersey Devils will win if... SPEED! SPEED! SPEED! While there are question marks on the Devils side, making the Rangers defenders stay in their own end and take bad penalties could tilt the scale greatly their way. While I haven't talked much about the Devils firepower up front (Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt have turned in great seasons), Nico Hischier will be asked to shutdown Mika Zibanejad's line. The 2016 top overall pick is ready - especially since he's one of few Devils to play in Jersey's last playoff appearance. Luke Hughes, Jack's brother, has been added to the defense and concluded the regular season with an OT winner for his first career goal.
Prediction: This series is actually closer than people may think. Are the Devils going to be happy "to be there" or are they ready for a run? Their 3-0-1 record against the Blueshirts say that are ready for primetime, but do they have what it takes on the backend and in net to win. Hard to say. Are the Rangers ready for the Devils speed? This series could come down to a bad bounce or an OT goal. Unfortunately, I have to make a prediction here.... If it comes down to experience, it'll favor the Rangers. Rangers in 6.
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