Sound Familiar?
It does if you are a fan of either of these two teams as exactly eighteen years ago to the day the situation was exactly the same as it is tonight.
Back in 1994 the New York Rangers were facing elimination when captain Mark Messier made a bold prediction saying the Rangers would win game six in New Jersey.
Messier was true to his words as he would score a hat trick in the Rangers 4-2 win over the Devils forcing game seven two nights later in Madison Square Garden.
Rangers fans are hoping history repeats itself while Devils fan would just prefer to end this series in six games and any parallels between this playoff match-up and the one back in 1994.
However there are no guarantees going into tonight's game as each team as tried to distanced itself as far away from the playoffs series in 1994.
On Thursday Rangers center Brad Richards said "No disrespect to history, but we're worried about ourselves,We want to create our own story and that's what we're here to do."
Devils coach Pete DeBoer added "I don't even think about '94, In '94 I still had hair. It was that long ago. That plays no part in what we're doing."
In fact there is only one player on each roster that has played in this series and the one in 1994, Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur.
Back in 1994 Brodeur was in his first season as the starting goaltender for New Jersey. Eighteen years later he has won three Stanley Cups, four Vezina trophies and has the most wins of any goaltender in NHL history.
In 29 other NHL building Brodeur will arguably go down as the greatest goaltender in NHL history. In Madison Square Garden though he will always be remembered for Matteau, Matteau, Matteau.
Brodeur won't come out and say it but I have to believe that part of him wants to win this series for no other reason than to put to rest what happened back in 1994.
Yes New Jersey has won three Stanley Cups since then but a win tonight would not only send the Devils back to the Finals it would finally give New Jersey bragging rights over their neighbors across the Hudson River.
When Messier made his prediction back in 1994 the whole hockey world took notice as he delivered. Current Rangers captain Ryan Callahan hasn't made any predictions on tonight's game as that isn't his style. He prefers to lead with actions not words.
Since he won't make a prediction I will.
If New Jersey is to win this series they better do it tonight in Newark. The last thing they want to do is give a talented team like New York one more chance to win the series in a game seven in Madison Square Garden.
They had an opportunity eighteen years ago to close out the series and they failed to do so. Eighteen years later I'm predicting history repeats itself.
New York wins tonight guaranteeing a game seven Sunday evening.
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