Miller_Bratt

(2M) Devils vs. (3M) Rangers
Eastern Conference First Round, Game 1
7 p.m. ET; TBS, SN360, TVAS2, MSG 2, MSGSN2, MSGSN

NEWARK -- The New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers renew acquaintances in the Hudson River Rivalry for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round when they face off in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the seventh time.
It's the first series between the teams since the 2012 Eastern Conference Final, when the Devils won in six games. Prior to this season, New Jersey's only playoff appareance since then was a five-game loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2018 first round.
The Devils (52-22-8) finished second in the Metropolitan Division, setting the New Jersey/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts records for wins and points (112). The Rangers (47-22-13) were third.
New Jersey won a regular-season series (3-0-1) against New York for the first time since 2017-18. During the past 10 seasons, the team winning the season series against an opponent is 71-51 when facing that team in the ensuing playoffs.
RELATED: [Complete Devils vs. Rangers coverage]
"I think it's at a high level, regardless who your opponent is, but I think there's an added level probably against a team you're playing just across the river," New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. "It's going to be a great opportunity for every player in our room to get to experience this and live it."
Jack Hughes will play his first NHL postseason game after setting the Devils/Rockies/Scouts record with 99 points (43 goals, 56 assists) in 78 regular-season games.
The Rangers are back in the playoffs after losing the Eastern Conference Final in six games to the Lightning last season. New York went 36-12-8 in its final 56 games this season, going 12-3-4 while not allowing more than three goals in a game since March 9.
"We expect to go and win the Stanley Cup," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "That's what we expect to do on Day One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I think everybody in that room believes we can win a Stanley Cup. I think everybody in that room knows we can lose in the first round if we don't play our best hockey. It's a battle. There's no bad teams out there."
Teams that win Game 1 are 507-235 (63.8 percent) winning the best-of-7 series, including 8-7 (53.3 percent) last season.
Here are 3 keys for Game 1:

1. The experience factor

The Rangers have players with more postseason experience on their roster who could make a difference in critical moments of a period or late in the game. The Devils acquired players during the offseason (forwards Erik Haula, Ondrej Palat; defenseman John Marino) and before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline on March 3 (forward Timo Meier) with playoff experience. The Rangers did the same (forwards Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko and Tyler Motte).
"A lot of our guys haven't been inside a playoff game, so I think the advantage goes to them a little bit right off the bat because their guys have lived it and have been there," Ruff said. "But for the most part we're a bunch of rebels. Young rebels that are ready to go."

2. Vanecek's performance

Devils goalie Vitek Vanecek had a breakout season, setting NHL career bests in wins (33), goals-against average (2.45) and save percentage (.911) in 52 games (48 starts). To give New Jersey a chance, he'll need a similar effort knowing opposite him is Igor Shesterkin, last season's Vezina Trophy winner as the best goalie in the NHL. He enters the series with 12 wins, a 1.98 GAA, .934 save percentage and two shutouts in final 16 regular-season games.
"Everyone can see he's got a good confidence in the net, but what's also underrated is how he plays the puck," New Jersey defenseman Dougie Hamilton said of Vanecek. "I think that's a huge thing for us as a team, as defensemen. I don't know if people talk about that, really, when it comes to Vitek, but it's definitely a big deal for us."

3. Containing the speed demons

The Rangers realize they must find a way to at least neutralize the Devils' team speed, which helped New Jersey tie the Seattle Kraken for fourth in goals scored (289) and finish third in goal-differential (plus-67). New York was 12th in goals scored (273) and sixth in goal-differential (plus-57).
"They're a team that likes to possess the puck and they're very good on the rush," Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren said. "They like to build speed through the neutral zone ... don't let Hughes and [Jesper Bratt] carry the puck through the neutral zone, build speed and make plays off the rush. They're good players, but you've got to slow them down as much as you can and hit them when you can. On the flip side we've got to make sure we're not turning pucks over, that we're being smart with the puck and not fueling their transition. It'll be a fun challenge."

Rangers projected lineup
Devils projected lineup

Tomas Tatar -- Nico Hischier -- Dawson Mercer
Ondrej Palat -- Jack Hughes -- Jesper Bratt
Timo Meier -- Erik Haula -- Jesper Boqvist
Miles Wood -- Michael McLeod -- Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves -- John Marino
Kevin Bahl -- Damon Severson
Vitek Vanecek
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scratched: Luke Hughes, Yegor Sharangovich, Curtis Lazar, Akira Schmid
Injured: Jonathan Bernier (hip)

Status report

The Rangers held an optional morning skate. ... Meier practiced Monday and will play after missing practice Saturday because of food poisoning. ... McLeod is expected to return after missing the last two regular-season games because of an undisclosed injury. ... Ruff did not confirm the Devils' backup goalie.
NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen contributed to this report