Metro Division Semi Final Game 1: Rangers at Devils

After what felt like months of expecting the Battle of the Hudson to return, the Rangers and the Devils have Game 1 of their series tonight in Newark. The Rangers went 1-2-1 against the Devils this season, with all of the games being close and none being with the current iteration of the Rangers lineup. That bodes well for the Rangers, even if the Devils are a very good team.

Both teams are known entities at this point, with the Rangers relying on elite skill up front and in net to balance out decent enough 5v5 possession metrics. The Devils are a top tier xG team, but lack consistent goaltending and defensive zone play. They rely on rush chances and a top offense to keep the opposition…