Henrik Lundqvist wasn’t around when the New Jersey Devils won their last Stanley Cup in 2003, but he arrived on the scene shortly thereafter.

The longest-tenured New York Ranger made his debut in 2005 at a time when the Devils were still perennial contenders and the Rangers were beginning a run of 11 playoff appearances in 12 years.

“We definitely had a few years where they were really good,” Lundqvist said. “I remember that the first few years. They were a strong team that had some veteran players that been around for a while. Then we started to get better and better, and we played them in the playoffs a few times. Every time you do that, (the rivalry) builds up.”

The Devils swept the Rangers in the 2006 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, with the Rangers getting payback in the same round two years later by beating New Jersey in five games. (A series remembered for Rangers tough guy Sean Avery repeatedly facing legendary Devils goalie Martin Brodeur while waving his arms and yelling in an attempt to distract.)

The most recent playoff meeting between the Hudson River rivals came in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, with the Devils winning the series in six games before losing in the Stanley Cup Final to the Los Angeles Kings.

“There were some great matchups,” Lundqvist said. “I think a lot of it resulted from the personalities on both teams that made it a little extra.”

It hasn’t been quite the same since that 2012 series, with the Devils making the playoffs just once since then and the Rangers rebuilding for the last two years.

It deteriorated to the point where they were picking No. 1 and No. 2 in this summer’s NHL Draft.

But with those top draft picks and a flurry of offseason activity from both teams, the personalities may be in place to renew the once-fierce rivalry.

“I think it will hopefully build up a little bit more,” Lundqvist said. “There are more storylines with the young players, draft picks and the free agent signings. There are a couple different things that add to it this year.”

ROOKIES: Kaapo Kakko unfazed by matchup with Jack Hughes

LINEUP CHANGES: Rangers moving Brett Howden to second-line center

They’ll get their first regular-season look at each other 7 p.m. Thursday at the Prudential Center in Newark, and while Lundqvist won’t be playing — Alexandar Georgiev will be in net for the Rangers, with Lundqvist set to start Friday night in D.C. — many intriguing new faces will be.

They include Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba for the Rangers (2-1); PK Subban and Wayne Simmonds for the Devils (0-4-2). But the players with the potential to define a renewed rivalry are No. 1 draft pick Jack Hughes and No. 2 pick Kaapo Kakko.

“I’m sure (Kakko) and Hughes have had their eye on each other for a long time," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "I’m sure if you put them under truth serum, they’re both excited to face each other. But both teams are looking for a win, and hopefully that’s way more important than any individual matchup."

We’ll see what kind of start they get off to tonight.

Projected New York Rangers' lineup

NOTE: Projected lineup is based on Wednesday's practice and is subject to change

Forwards

First line → Artemi Panarin (LW) – Mika Zibanejad (C) – Pavel Buchnevich (RW)

Second line → Chris Kreider (LW) – Brett Howden (C) – Kaapo Kakko (RW)

Third line → Brendan Smith (LW) – Ryan Strome (C) – Jesper Fast (RW)

Fourth line → Greg McKegg (LW) – Lias Andersson (C) – Brendan Lemieux/Micheal Haley (RW)

Defense

First pair → Marc Staal (L) and Tony DeAngelo (R)

Second pair → Libor Hájek (L) and Jacob Trouba (R)

Third pair → Brady Skjei (L) and Adam Fox (R)

Goalies

Starter → Alexandar Georgiev

Backup → Henrik Lundqvist

DEVILS LINEUP: Jack Hughes expected to center New Jersey's top line

Game notes

How to watch/listen: TV: NBCSN; Radio: ESPN 1050 AM

TV: NBCSN; Radio: ESPN 1050 AM All-time series: 118-92-27-10 (66-32-20-4 at home; 52-60-7-6 on the road) *Note: All-time record includes games against the Kansas City Scouts from 1974-76 and the Colorado Rockies from 1976-82

118-92-27-10 (66-32-20-4 at home; 52-60-7-6 on the road) *Note: All-time record includes games against the Kansas City Scouts from 1974-76 and the Colorado Rockies from 1976-82 Back-to-back: The Rangers will begin the first of 13 sets back-to-back games for the 2019-20 season. They'll play on the road against the Washington Capitals at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Rangers will begin the first of 13 sets back-to-back games for the 2019-20 season. They'll play on the road against the Washington Capitals at 7 p.m. Friday. Dancing with the Devils: The Rangers have earned at least one point in 21 of their last 28 games against the Devils, dating back to Mar. 19, 2013. Six of the last 11 meetings between the Rangers and Devils have been decided by one goal, and four of those contests have been decided in either overtime or a shootout.

The Rangers have earned at least one point in 21 of their last 28 games against the Devils, dating back to Mar. 19, 2013. Six of the last 11 meetings between the Rangers and Devils have been decided by one goal, and four of those contests have been decided in either overtime or a shootout. Mika's first hat trick: Mika Zibanejad led all skaters with five assists, eight points and 16 shots on goal in the 2018-19 season series, and he recorded his first hat trick with the Blueshirts on Jan. 31, 2019 at New Jersey. Zibanejad posted a multi-point game in three of the four contests and has 16 points (six goals and 10 assists) in 19 career games against the Devils.

Game notes provided by New York Rangers public relations coordinator Michael Rappaport.

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