The Devils-Rangers Rivalry

The first playoff meeting between the teams went the distance. The Presidents' Trophy-winning Rangers emerged victorious, but Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said the seeds of his deep, ongoing dislike of the Blueshirts were planted. "We had big brawls and everything," Brodeur recalled to NJ.com. "Mike Richter and (John) Vanbiesbrouck were there [playing goal] with the Rangers. I was on the bench and in the locker room. I got to hate the Rangers early on."