New Jersey Devils beat New York Rangers 3-2 in exhibition; first hockey in Meadowlands (New Jersey).

The echoes of the NHL crowd brought one thing to heart – hockey was back. For the first time since its groundbreaking, the Meadowlands in New Jersey witnessed a fiery exhibition match between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers on September 21, 1982. In the clash of rivals, the Devils came out on top with a nail-biting 3-2 victory.

New York Rangers – a team synonymous with passion and dedication, knew this wasn’t a mere exhibition. For the Rangers, every game against the Devils carries its very own narrative. However, this friendly match-up was destined to set the stage for a new era of hockey in New Jersey, in the home of the Devils, the Meadowlands.

The Meadowlands, touted as one of New Jersey’s crowning architectural achievements, had its first taste of high-octane hockey action. The amalgamation of lights reflecting on the snowy ice surface signaled a bold statement – Hockey was here. This monumental event paved the way for New Jersey to solidify its place in the national sports landscape, primarily through the success of its burgeoning NHL franchise, the New Jersey Devils.

The game itself was a thrilling spectacle. The Devils took an early advantage with two quick goals, establishing their dominance from the start. However, not ones to go down easily, the Rangers clawed back, striking one goal and sending waves of anticipation through the crowd. As the final period wound down, the Devils retaliated with a superb follow-up goal, taking the score to 3-1. The Rangers managed a gloomy facedown with the clock, squeezing in their second goal, but it was not enough to sway the win from the Devils, who rounded up their first exhibition game with a significant 3-2 victory.

This game remains etched in memory, not only for the fantastic display of skill but also for the atmosphere created by the Meadowlands arena. The crowd, a dynamic mix of Devils and Rangers supporters alike, filled the stadium with an audible passion, bouncing in their seats, transforming the new structure into a vibrating hive of hockey fandom. With this exhibition match, the venue surely etched its name in the books of significant American hockey history snippets.

Great things often start small. This simple statement rings true when looking back at New Jersey’s flirtation with professional ice hockey. This exhibition victory over the Rangers back in ’82 set not just a cornerstone for a then-nascent Devils’ franchise but also laid the foundation for a hockey culture in New Jersey which remains thriving even today.

The win, a sweet one for the Devils, got amplified as it was against their rivals, the Rangers. The victory’s aftershock continued to radiate long after the final buzzer. For the New York Rangers, it indicated that their battles against the New Jersey Devils would be hard-fought, competitive, and fuel intensity.

This early rivalry would only be the precursor for games to come, setting a benchmark for passionate hockey in New Jersey. It represented a moment when New Jersey, the Rangers, the Devils, and the Meadowlands united under an icy umbrella of high-stakes hockey action, cementing a symbiotic relationship that continues to elevate the sport to this day.

In 1982, a memorable event unfolded at the Meadowlands, weaving an intricate part of New Jersey’s sports folklore. The New Jersey Devils beating the New York Rangers 3-2 in an exhibition match was the start of hockey’s love story with the Meadowlands. Today, its legacy continues to resonate, amplifying the Devils’, the Rangers’, and the NHL’s commitment to the pursuit of sports excellence, passion, and noteworthy competition.