Rangers and Devils Are One and the Same This Season

For years, it seemed like the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils would follow several different paths year in and year out:

1) The Rangers would be great and the Devils would be terrible
2) The Devils would be great and the Rangers would be terrible
3) Both the Rangers and Devils would be great

There was never really a fourth option. It was usually one of those three kinds of seasons mentioned above and fans got used to them over the years.

This season, however, a fourth kind of season was introduced to both Rangers and Devils fans - terrible for both teams. Both the Rangers and the Devils are having horrible seasons and with 25 games to go, it looks like neither team will make the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.

As such, it is easy to say that both the Rangers and Devils are having the same kind of season this year. For starters, they are both currently (As of Friday, February 6) not in a playoff spot.

As of this writing, the Rangers are last in the Metropolitan Division, last in the Eastern Conference, and 30th in the NHL with a record of 22-29-6 for 50 points. This has easily been one of the team's worst seasons in a very long time.

Across the Hudson River, the Devils are currently second to last in the Metropolitan Division, second to last in the Eastern Conference, and 26th in the NHL with a record of 28-27-2 for 58 points. While one can say that the Devils are just 11 points out of the second wild card spot, the way they have played this season should show their fans and the hockey world that they might not have what it takes to clinch a spot come April.

Another way in which the two teams have been similar this season is the fact that they have a lot of trouble putting the puck in the net. The Devils are currently 30th in the league in goals scored with 143 goals in 57 games (2.51 goals per game), while the Rangers are currently 27th in the league in the same category with 149 goals scored in 57 games (2.61 goals per game).

When it comes to the Devils and their scoring woes, it is somewhat surprising. Yes, their franchise superstar Jack Hughes has missed a bunch of games due to various injuries, but they still have players that should be able to put the puck in the net more than they currently have been like Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and Dawson Mercer.

In terms of the Blueshirts and their scoring struggles, it seems to be a lack of effort and hunger. The Rangers do not bear down when it comes to putting the puck in the net, as they do not go to the dirty areas to score goals, do not create a lot of quality scoring chances, and have not been getting enough production from the likes of J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafreniere, and Will Cuylle.

Keeping the puck out of the net has also been an issue for both hockey clubs. This has especially been the case for the Rangers because of Igor Shesterkin's injury.

As of this writing, the Rangers are 21st in the league in goals allowed. With Shesterkin out, Jonathan Quick is currently 4-14-0-2 with a 3.10 goals-against average, a .890 save percentage, and one shutout while Spencer Martin is 1-3 with a 4.13 goals-against average and a .864 save percentage.

At the other end, the Devils are currently 16th in the NHL in goals allowed. Jacob Markstrom has been abysmal this year, as he is currently 15-13-0-1 with a 3.20 goals-against average and a .882 save percentage while Jake Allen is 12-14-0-1 with a 2.66 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage, and one shutout.

Basically put, neither of these teams are good enough to contend this season. They have trouble scoring, keeping the puck out of their respective nets, and are not getting consistent enough performances from their top players.

These two teams may hate each other, but this season, they are one and the same when it comes to the kind of season they are having.