Eastern Conference Finals 2012: Devils in Must-Win Game 6 vs. Rangers

The New Jersey Devils need to win Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference finals to eliminate the New York Rangers or they will lose the series in seven games.

If the Devils lose Game 6, the comparisons to the 1994 Eastern finals in which the Rangers won Game 6 then took Game 7 in overtime will increase dramatically.

Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur would also be under immense pressure to dominate in Game 7 because of his Game 7 loss in 1994. As a team, the Devils would be under more pressure to win Game 7 because unlike the Rangers, this may be their last chance to win a Cup for a while.

Captain Zach Parise might be in his last year with the Devils since he's an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. Brodeur is 40 years old and could possibly retire, but even if he comes back, it's unlikely that he would lead the team to the conference finals again.

The Rangers are one of the most resilient teams in hockey, and just like the Boston Bruins last year, New York has played well in elimination games.

Giving the Rangers' confidence after a Game 6 victory heading to their home ice at Madison Square Garden, which is a tough place to win, would be the worst possible situation for the Devils.

They Devils have to close this series out and prove to themselves that they can finish quality teams in elimination games heading into a Stanley Cup final matchup with the Los Angeles Kings.

The Devils need their big-name players like Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk to play the best game of their careers in Game 6 to ensure history does not repeat itself.

Losing this series in the same fashion that the 1994 team did would be unbearable for the Devils and their fans, who cringe at seeing the replay of Stephane Matteau's legendary Game 7 winner 18 years ago.

The Devils must win Game 6 at the Prudential Center because it's hard to see them winning at Madison Square Garden against Henrik Lundqvist and a Rangers team with impressive heart and character.

Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is an NHL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and was also the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Final in Boston.