Schedule and 2005-06 Results
Regular Season Records: New Jersey 46-27-9=101pts, N.Y. Rangers 44-26-12=100pts
Game 1 on Saturday, 22 April: N.Y. Rangers lose at New Jersey, 6-goals-1
Game 2 on Monday, 24 April: N.Y. Rangers lose at New Jersey, 4-goals-1
Game 3 on Wednesday, 26 April: New Jersey wins at N.Y. Rangers, 3-goals-nil
Game 4 on Saturday, 29 April: New Jersey wins at N.Y. Rangers, 4-goals-2

SERIES NOTES:

After Game 4: While the New York Rangers scored first and held a Game 4 lead for 4:39, the New Jersey Devils ultimately defeated the Rangers in New York 4-goals-2 to win best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL series 959, 4-games-nil. The series 959 win improves the New Jersey Devils' series record to 21-12, while that of the New York Rangers falls to 22-31. The Rangers' last playoff game victory remains in 1997. The four-game sweep of a best-of-7 playoff series was the 19th in the NHL Preliminary round, the 95th in the NHL (all rounds), and the 162nd in the NHL, NBA, and MLB; it was the third best-of-7 NHL playoff series sweep accomplished by the Devils, and the sixth suffered by the Rangers.

After Game 3: Through a 3-goals-nil shutout of the Rangers on New York ice, the New Jersey Devils have taken a 3-games-nil best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL series 959 lead. The New York Rangers are winless in eight best-of-7 NHL series upon trailing 3-games-nil, while the New Jersey Devils have a 5-0 series record upon leading 3-games-nil.

After Game 2: The New Jersey Devils hosted and defeated the New York Rangers 4-goals-1 to take a best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL series 959 lead of 2-games-nil. When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 2-games-nil, the New Jersey Devils have a 9-0 series record. When trailing a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 2-games-nil, the New York Rangers have a 1-15 series record (the sole win occurred the last time the Rangers were down 2-games-nil, in series 700 -- the 1996 NHL Preliminary round -- vs. the Montreal Canadiens).

After Game 1: The New Jersey Devils hosted and defeated the New York Rangers 6-goals-1 to take a best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL series 959 lead of 1-game-nil. When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 1-game-nil, the New Jersey Devils have a 12-4 series record with an eight-series winning streak. When trailing a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 1-game-nil, the New York Rangers have an 8-21 series record.

Pre-series assessment: In the 2005-06 regular season, New Jersey finished one point ahead of the New York Rangers. From 1939 through the 2005 MLB Finals, when NHL teams led their best-of-7 playoff series opponents by one regular-season point, they have posted an 9-2 (.818) best-of-7 series record in those series against those opponents. MLB/NBA/NHL best-of-7 series 959 is the 53rd best-of-7 playoff series for the New York Rangers (and their first since 1997), and the 33rd for New Jersey. In best-of-7 playoff series, the New York Rangers have a 22-30 series record, a 6-3 Prelim-round series record (with an active five-series Preliminary-round winning streak), and a 23-29 Game 1 record, while New Jersey has a 20-12 series record, a 7-8 Prelim-round record, and a 16-16 Game 1 record. Series 959 is the fourth best-of-7 meeting between New York Rangers and New Jersey; the Rangers won the previous three (best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL playoff series 603 in the 1992 NHL Preliminary round; series 663 in the 1994 NHL Semifinals; series 733 in the 1997 NHL Quarterfinals -- series 733 is the last NHL playoff series that the New York Rangers have won).