The Rangers and Devils are destined to reignite all the best parts of a true rivalry in this first-round playoff series, which commences on Tuesday at the Prudential Center.

It’s been some time since both clubs were considered legitimate postseason contenders: Their last playoff meeting came in the conference finals 11 years ago.

The Rangers lost that one in heartbreaking fashion before the Devils fell just short of the Stanley Cup in a six-game series with the Kings.

“This is a rivalry that hasn’t been crazy, I guess, since I’ve been here,” Rangers captain Jacob Trouba said. “It’s going to be my first taste of some good rivalry hockey with Jersey. It’ll be exciting for the fans, exciting for the players, and I think it’ll be a good matchup.”

This will be about building on a run to the conference finals last season for the Rangers, who also have an opportunity to avenge the 2012 team that was beaten by Adam Henrique’s overtime winner.

For the Devils, it will be about stepping out from the skyscraper-sized shadow that’s been cast from Manhattan.

Superiority in the tri-state area is up for grabs.

And the best part? If the Islanders upset the Hurricanes, the winner of Rangers-Devils will spend some time on Long Island for the second round.

The Post’s Mollie Walker takes a look at how the teams match up.

We give credit where credit is due here.

The Devils, who had been hampered by goaltending struggles for years, set up their season for success by acquiring Vitek Vanecek from the Capitals during the 2022 NHL Draft in exchange for a swap of second-round picks and a third-rounder.

Vanecek ended up starting in 48 of the Devils’ 82 games, posting career bests in save percentage (.911) and goals-against average (2.45).

Vanecek played a key role in the Devils’ breakout season, providing solid goaltending for a team that was tied for fourth in the NHL with 289 goals scored.

There are very few teams, however, that have a goaltender who rivals Igor Shesterkin.

He may have had an “off” campaign in terms of how it measured up to his historic 2021-22 season, but the Russian netminder returned to his otherworldly form in the last couple weeks of the regular season.

The Rangers’ Jaroslav Halak is also a much stronger and more reliable backup option than Mackenzie Blackwood.

Edge: Rangers

Neither of these clubs is known for its defensive capabilities.

It’s their offenses that steal headlines, sometimes at the expense of defense.

Both teams have a big-time point-producing blueliner in the Rangers’ Adam Fox and the Devils’ Dougie Hamilton.

From there, the Rangers probably have the edge over the Devils based on each defense corps’ overall production and two-way game.

The Blueshirts’ top four of Fox, Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba have been skating together in the same formation for a while.

Niko Mikkola was an underrated addition to the left side of Braden Schneider at the trade deadline for the Rangers.

Edge: Rangers

The Devils are one of very few teams with a complement of forwards who can go toe-to-toe with the Rangers’.

As deep as the Rangers’ four lines go, so do the Devils’. It will be two loaded top-six groups going head to head.

For the Rangers’ top line of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Patrick Kane, the Devils have Tomas Tatar, Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer.

Neither team drops off from first line to second line. That features Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Vladimir Tarasenko vs. Ondrej Palat, Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt.

The bottom sixes could be a deciding factor in the series.

The Rangers may have a slight upper hand there because of the Kid Line (Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko), but the Devils have notables such as Timo Meier, Nathan Bastian and Yegor Sharangovich.

Edge: Even

The Rangers have two of the most loaded power-play units in the NHL, but ranked just seventh with a 24.1 percentage.

There’s definitely another level to be reached. If their spotty five-on-five play returns, however, it’ll be crucial for the power play to produce.

Led by Hughes’ 31 power-play points, the Devils’ man-advantage units ranked 13th in the league with a 21.9 percentage.

It hasn’t quite been as automatic as the Rangers’ has at times, but the Devils are still a relatively consistent threat.

Edge: Rangers

This will be Lindy Ruff’s first playoff appearance as head coach of the Devils since he took over the squad in 2020.

Devils fans went from calling for the former Blueshirts assistant to be fired two games into the season to chanting an apology a month later.

Ruff certainly has played a role in ushering the Devils’ young talent along to where they are now, but it’s difficult to compare to what Gerard Gallant has accomplished.

Gallant has coached the Rangers to back-to-back top-three finishes in the Metropolitan Division and compiled a combined record of 99-46-19.

The Rangers have posted 110 and 107 points, respectively, in Gallant’s first two campaigns.

Edge: Rangers

The Rangers are stacked with playoff-proven players and have been carrying the weight of their unfinished business from last season all year long.

Rangers in 6