The NHL Conference Finals: The East

In the Eastern Conference Finals, it will be a series between two teams that are very close to each other geographically, and very familiar with one another, to boot. The New York Rangers, the top seed in the East, will meet the rejuvenated New Jersey Devils. 

Each team has had to survive at least one seven game series already, with the Devils having survived a Game 7 against the Florida Panthers, after having survived possible elimination in Game 6 to force the decisive Game 7, while the Rangers now have had to survive two consecutive seven game series, also thwarting elimination in Game 6 at Ottawa to force a Game 7, which they hosted and won, and then having just survived the Washington Capitals in a back and forth series. The Rangers finally outlasted Washington to earn their berth in the Eastern Finals. 

So, here they are again. A rivalry renewed. For the second time, they meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. The last time that they met at that level, it was epic. Way back in 1994,  the Rangers needed all seven games to finally get by the Devils, on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they again won a seven game series to finally break the 54 year curse and win the cup for the Big Apple. Mark Messier famously predicted a victory against the Devils in Game 6, where the Rangers had faced elimination, and after New York fell behind 2-0, Messier delivered, scoring a hat trick en route to a 4-2 comeback win that kept the Rangers alive to host Game 7, which they would win. Otherwise, New York hockey memories might have been very different.

Of course, the Devils won the Stanley Cup themselves the next year, and have won it a total of three times, and gone to the Stanley Cup Finals four times overall (they lost in seven to the Colorado Avalanche in 2001). Martin Brodeur, the starting goalie for the Devils on all three championship squads, has now earned the ranking as the greatest goaltender in history, arguably. He has won more games and posted more shutouts than any other goaltender, and this might be his last chance at adding to his championship legacy. 

Yet, the Rangers stand in the way, of course. These two teams have met in the playoffs five times before, with the Rangers having won four of the five series. But past history should not really matter too much in this series, since these are different teams. New York's success so far has seen their fans openly reminiscing about 1994, and claiming that they see shades of that glorious team in this one. 

The question is, how tired are the Rangers? The Devils had to survive a seven game series themselves in the first round, but they pretty much thoroughly demolished the Philadelphia Flyers in five, and have had plenty of time to rest since then, making them the more well rested team. Of course, if you flip that around, that also suggests that the Rangers should be sharper, having been on the ice much more recently. 

I will predict that the Devils sharp play of late will continue, and the Rangers, perhaps a bit worn down from their long and exhausting series against Ottawa and Washington, find themselves worn down, and eventually out, by New Jersey, with it's tough defense and goaltending. It will not be an easy series, but the Devils should be able to take it in six.