"[2] This is because Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan, where the Rangers play, is across the Hudson River and less than 10 miles (16 km) from the Prudential Center in downtown Newark (and previously, the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford), the home of the Devils.

Travel between both arenas is easily accomplished by both road (usually through the Lincoln Tunnel) and rail (along the Northeast Corridor and PATH).

For the relocation, they were required to pay massive indemnities to the Rangers, New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers, geographically-proximate teams, for the right to share New Jersey market.

"[7] The Rangers reached the conference finals with relative ease by sweeping their crosstown rivals, the Islanders, and beating the Washington Capitals in five games.

However, all ideas of a quick New York series were soon ended after game one, a 4–3 double overtime victory that was sealed by the Devils' Stephane Richer.

In game five, Adam Graves scored an overtime wraparound goal to give the Rangers the series win.

[14] At the end of the 2005–06 season, the Devils won 11 games straight — the second such streak of the season — and capped off the run by winning the Atlantic Division in comeback fashion against the Montreal Canadiens, a division win made all the more exciting by the fact that the Devils had been 22 points out of the lead just three months prior, with many thinking the team wouldn't make the 2006 playoffs.

The teams had their fourth playoff meeting in the 2006 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, a four-game sweep by New Jersey over their cross-river rivals for the first time ever in franchise history.

While essentially ignoring the play on the ice when his team had a two-man advantage, Avery faced Brodeur and waved his hands and stick in front of him in an attempt to distract him and block his view.

[17] The following day, the NHL issued an interpretation of the league's unsportsmanlike conduct rule to cover actions such as the one employed by Avery.

When asked what happened after the game, Avery said, "Well, everyone talks about how classy or un-classy I am, and fatso [Brodeur] there just forgot to shake my hand I guess.

During the 2009–10 season, there was a moment of peace in the rivalry with both captains, Rangers' Chris Drury and Devils' Jamie Langenbrunner, winning silver medals as members the Team USA during the Vancouver Olympics.

Also in the third game, there was a controversial call that negated a goal by Rangers' Derek Stepan due to alleged goaltender interference by Marian Gaborik.

The 2012–13 season began with a labor lockout due to the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)'s expiration, with the players and owners struggling to agree on new terms.

The Rangers' 4–1 victory on April 21, at home officially ended the Devils' hopes to reach the 2013 playoffs, despite making the Finals the previous year.

[30] On February 22, 2018, the two teams made their first trade together when the Rangers sent Michael Grabner to the Devils in exchange for Yegor Rykov and a second-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

[36] During a 3–1 New York victory on March 11, 2024, Rangers rookie Matt Rempe's rough play led to him being challenged to a fight by Devils enforcer Kurtis MacDermid several times, all of which he refused.

Rempe and MacDermid were on their teams' starting lines and were seen talking to each other before the opening faceoff, after which the referee made them step apart.

Rempe and MacDermid continued well after the others had stopped; head coaches Peter Laviolette and Travis Green were also seen angrily exchanging words on the benches.

[39] During the first period of the game, Hughes was alone on a breakaway toward goal and used a move called "The Forsberg," named after Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg, where Hughes faked a shot on his forehand to his left and then pulled a hand off his stick to try and sneak the puck past Shesterkin on the right side with his backhand.

[40][41] Valiquette was criticized by other fanbases, analysts and former players for his comments and was mocked by the Devils organization on social media.

The Devils posted a clip to their social media sites replaying all five of their goals against the Rangers with Valiquette saying "Instagram hockey" over each one.

[42] Fans on both sides have agreed the rivalry has become even stronger as of late, due in large part to the fact that both teams have shown much more parity towards each other.

Devils fans, meanwhile, enjoy making confetti which reads "Rangers suck" and handing them out during games formerly at the Continental Airlines Arena and currently at the Prudential Center.

[43][44] The Rangers–Devils rivalry is popular among fans due to its geographic proximity, which is seen as a battle between the neighboring states of New York and New Jersey.

"[45] During their last playoff meet, actor/director Kevin Smith was asked to have a blog commenting on the series, which could be read on the NHL's official website.

Sometimes, it feels like a large cross-section of those folks in the stands at the Rock (and formerly at the Meadowlands) aren't there so much to love on the Devils as they are to hate on New York.

Granted, they don't roll over for us as much as Philly does (except, y'know – in that last game this season), but the Rangers've been hoisted up high on the Devils' pitchfork enough times (the '06 four-zip playoffs come to mind) to warrant at least a degree of affection right?