Rangers vs. Devils preview: First meeting between division rivals since 2012 Eastern Conference Final

The New Jersey Devils (4-1-3) will host the New York Rangers (4-4-0) at Prudential Center on Tuesday night.

It will be the first of four meetings between the two teams this season.

Tuesday night will also mark the first meeting between the Atlantic Division rivals since the Devils eliminated the Rangers from the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs in the Eastern Conference Final.

With the Rangers managing to earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the club's championship dreams were ended by the sixth-seeded Devils, who had made a bit of a cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final as the lowest ranked team in the heavily-favored Atlantic Division.

Some of the Rangers players commented on how difficult the loss was and how they have been using it as motivation for this season. Devils head coach Pete DeBoer described the series as great hockey and hoped to replicate it this season.

Entering Tuesday night, the Devils have allowed the sixth fewest goals against this season (19) and are allowing an average of 2.25 goals against per game (ranked 7th). The Rangers have allowed 12 goals against per game (tied for 10th) and are allowing an average of 2.75 goals against per game (17th).

On the offensive end of the rink, both clubs have struggled.

Despite the addition of Rick Nash this offseason, the Rangers have only produced 19 goals this season (ranked 26th) and are averaging 2.38 goals per game (21st). Conversely, New Jersey has 20 goals this season (ranked 23rd) and are averaging 2.50 goals per game (ranked 17th).

Martin Brodeur has already been confirmed as the Devils starter (3-1-2; .899 save percentage, 2.75 GAA), while Henrik Lundqvist is expected to get the nod for the Rangers (3-4-0; .904 save percentage, 2.78 GAA).

Tuesday night's game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., ET and will be broadcast on MSG and MSG PLUS 2.