The New Jersey Devils are part of one of the NHL’s best rivalries: the cross-river showdown with the New York Rangers. Widely regarded as one of the league’s fiercest competitions, it’s a matchup fueled by geography, history, and passionate fan bases.
Other top NHL rivalries include:
- Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
- Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins
- Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals
- Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers
- New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils
- Philadelphia Flyers vs. Washington Capitals
Known as the Hudson River Rivalry, or the Battle of the Hudson, the Devils and Rangers feud began in 1982, when the Devils relocated to New Jersey. Rangers fans were quick to bristle at the idea of a new team just 12 miles away. The Devils call the Prudential Center in Newark home. At the same time, the Rangers play at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, a short 25-minute drive between arenas, making it easy for fans to invade enemy territory.
While proximity sparked the tension, on-ice battles cemented it. Games are often physical, emotional, and fiercely contested. The rivalry’s peak came in the mid-1990s: in 1994, the Rangers claimed the Stanley Cup after defeating Vancouver; in 1995, the Devils answered back by beating Detroit for their own championship.
Since the 2004–05 season, the teams have met 43 times, each game seemingly more heated than the last. In 2024, Rangers rookie enforcer Matt Rempe stirred controversy by injuring a Devils player, earning himself a suspension. Devils fans need no prompting to chant “Rangers Suck” whenever the Blueshirts visit Newark, a tradition even immortalized in Seinfeld.
Of course, the Devils have other regional rivalries. The Philadelphia Flyers' feud with New Jersey has history, proximity, and memorable incidents, like the infamous leg stomp and the Lindros Corollary, making it the Devils’ second-strongest rivalry. The Islanders, however, haven’t posed a consistent threat in recent years, keeping that rivalry a notch lower.
Still, no matchup compares to Devils vs. Rangers. The blend of history, fan hostility, and close quarters has created one of the most intense rivalries in the NHL, one that shows no signs of cooling off.
The two teams will not face each other this season until March 7th, 2026. In the meantime the rivalry has time to brew.
Image Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images