The anticipation (and nerves) only built as the game inched closer and closer to starting. From the cacophonous welcome from the home crowd as the team took the ice, to the exuberant swirling white playoff towels and finally to puck drop.
The crescendo burst as play began. But the "jitter" lingered in the opening minutes.
"Being out there with the fans, the towels. Our fans were incredible," McLeod said. "Everyone was a little nervous, maybe a little too hesitant at times."
The hesitation (and sometimes panic) led to the Devils making some uncharacteristic plays, missing the net on shots or forcing plays that weren't there.
"The style of play is definitely a little bit different," Bastian said. "A lot of us were pretty anxious and nervous, throwing pucks away a little bit. It's about bearing down and being able to make the next play."
Before the team's nerves could settle, the Rangers built a 2-0 lead.
"A lot of us by the third period felt a ton more comfortable, it was just that the game was out of reach already," Bastian said. "If you look around the league there are a lot of teams that started at home and started down in the series. It happens. We figured it would be a long, hard-fought battle through the series anyway."
In fact, of the eight playoff series matchups, six of the eight home teams lost Game 1. Which isn't entirely surprising.
"I've always thought with my experience," Ruff said, "that playing at home the first game with friends, with family, with everything else versus being on the road, tucked into a hotel with nobody around, the focus, for me as a coach, just seems better.
"No distractions. Not that that is always the case. But I think it plays a factor sometimes with the home team."
Maybe it was distractions. Maybe it was the nerves. Maybe it was the inexperience. Whatever the case, the game is over, and the team must look forward and not behind.
"We talked this morning that you got your first taste," Ruff said. "We talked about the emotions before this series started, how to put away wins, how to put away losses. You have to take what you can out of losses, you have to take what you can from the wins, and you have to move on."
The Devils were very consistent throughout the regular season. They didn't have many losing streaks - minus one minor slump in December. The Devils were able to put losses behind them and respond with victories. That fortitude led to the best regular season in team history.
"We've been a group that has been resilient, that has been up for every challenge," Ruff said. "We're not the only team that's been challenged in the league. We're not the only team with a disappointing loss. You look at it, you move on, and you go get Game 2."
"Whenever you lose there is obviously going to be disappointment," Wood said. "We have a hungry group in here. We've bounced back a lot this year. I expect the same kind of response in Game 2."
And when the puck drops Thursday night for the second installment, the Devils will be much more equipped with the knowledge of what to expect. There shouldn't be a repeat of their anxious energy to start the game.
For Game 1, the nerves were expected. For Game 2, it should be a different script.
"Heading into Game 2, the nerves should be gone," Wood said. "(Game 1) is over with. On to Game 2 now."
