Everybody knew that the battle of the Hudson was going to be a war. And everybody was right. The Devils and the Rangers are two of the best teams in the league and have one of the best rivalries in all of hockey. Nobody could have predicted how the first six games have gone, but it is no surprise that these two teams will need a game 7 to decide who moves on. There is a lot of pressure that comes with a winner-take-all game. But for these teams, there is even more than usual. So we will explore the landscape of the series as we stand right now. Who has more pressure to move on, the Rangers or the Devils?
Rangers and Devils Game 7: Who Has More Pressure?
Rangers
The New York Rangers have had one goal since being eliminated in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago. They want to win the Stanley Cup and they expect to get there. Obviously, a first-round exit would be a huge disappointment. Especially after General Manager, Chris Drury doubled down at the trade deadline by adding Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko for this year only. But the Rangers have a ton of experience in these situations. Including Game 6, the Rangers have won six elimination games in the last two years. That being said, they won’t have anything to show for it if they lose on Monday night.
The Rangers are still a somewhat young team. This would certainly not be the end of their championship window if they do get knocked out. But it would be missed opportunity for a team that could have won it all. And this is the first year that the team has genuine expectations. New York needs to find a way to get it done or this year will end up being a huge step backward.
Devils
The New Jersey Devils are coming off their best season in franchise history. They were incredible from the season’s start to finish and were just one point shy of winning the Metropolitan division. As the home team and higher seed, they were expected to win the series. And all of their hard work this year has earned them the advantage of playing Game 7 on home ice. So to watch their biggest rival come into their barn and eliminate them in the first round would be a massive disappointment.
But for the Devils, their window has just begun. They have overachieved this year to a high degree with a very young and up-and-coming team. The team and their fans will be crushed if they lose on Monday night. But at least they understand that this team has gained valuable experience in the playoffs and is going to be a force in the league for years to come.
Who Has More Pressure?
Clearly, both of these teams have a ton of pressure on their shoulders. The Rangers certainly had higher expectations heading into the season but by the time the playoffs came around, it was much more even. But if we really think about it, the Rangers have more pressure than the Devils headed into Game 7. If New York is eliminated, it is a large step backward from last year and an enormous disappointment. There is no other way to look at it. If the Devils are eliminated, it would still be a very successful season. They set their franchise record with 113 points, which is a whopping 49 points better than they were last year. That is the greatest improvement from one year to the next in the history of the NHL. It is clear to fans of both sides that the Devils aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Last Word
If the battle of the Hudson has been a war, then Game 7 is going to be the final battle. The way that the series has gone, there is no way to predict what will happen. What we do know is that the game will end in handshakes and someone will head home for good. It is time to sit back and see who can handle the pressure. That is likely the team that will continue their dream and move on to Carolina.
Main Photo: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
