We’ll never know.

No one will for sure, because it’s one of those intangible elements to sports that’s impossible to measure with scientific data.

But it’s fair to wonder whether the heavy weight of expectations sunk the Rangers to the bottom of the Hudson River in this first-round playoff showdown with the Devils, their season of promise ending abruptly in a deflating 4-0 Game 7 loss Monday night at Prudential Center.

Sure, the Devils were the better regular-season team by virtue of points (their 112 five more than the Rangers’ 107) and the head-to-head advantage (3-0-1).

But the Rangers were the team that was supposed to take it deep this postseason, one year after charging to the Eastern Conference Final before falling to Tampa Bay.

Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko, a pair of veteran snipers, were acquired in midseason to push the Rangers, already talented, seasoned and skilled, over the top — “over the top’’ meaning Stanley Cup Final or bust.

Instead, the Rangers, who had a 2-0 lead in this series against the less-experienced Devils, are one-and-done in the playoffs this time, bowing out two series earlier than where their season ended last spring.

Before the game, Devils coach Lindy Ruff, who was 0-4 in Game 7s as a coach entering the night, delivered the message to his players that they “embrace the moment’’ of a Game 7 and have “fun.’’

And have fun the Devils did, looking the looser, more carefree team while the Rangers looked like they were pressing harder with every shift, squeezing sawdust from their sticks.

“This game has to be the most fun you’ve had all year,’’ Ruff told his players Monday morning.

“And,’’ he said after the game, “I think they had the most fun.’’

The more fun the Devils had the tighter the Rangers looked. It all began to go bad for the Rangers, who had survived a New Jersey onslaught in the first period without yielding a goal, when Devils fourth-line center Michael McLeod scored a short-handed goal midway through the second period.

“We got that first goal and we felt like we could roll over top of them,’’ Devils star winger Jack Hughes said. “We’re a pretty young team and some people talk about our inexperience, but we really don’t know better, we just play. We came out tonight and just did that.’’

It looked fun.

“We made some memories tonight together,’’ Devils captain Nico Hischier said. “It was probably one of the most fun games I’ve ever played.’’

Before the game, Hughes said, “This year, if someone would have told us at the start of the year where we are right now, in a Game 7 in the playoffs in Round 1, we’d be thrilled and probably a little shocked with that. So, it’s a great opportunity for us. We’re kind of playing with house money here. We’re at home. Game 7. So, what else do you want?’’

The Devils could not have asked for more on a night when they gave so much more than a Rangers team that simply didn’t look as hungry.

One night earlier, it looked like heavy expectations weighed down the record-setting Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins, who despite their 135 regular-season points, lost a Game 7 to a Florida team that had amassed 43 fewer points and 23 fewer wins than Boston in the regular season.

No better way to measure the weight of those expectations than the simple eye test.

And the eye test in this series, accentuated by Monday night, showed a Rangers team that spent more time stressing and pressing than the Devils after Game 2.

Adding to the Rangers’ pain is the fact that these 2023 Devils are essentially a facsimile of the 2022 Rangers — a mirror image in terms of where they are in their program and their development.

The Rangers were in the playoffs last season after missing the tournament the previous four years, and their 110 points and the run to the Eastern Conference Final put them ahead of schedule.

The Devils entered this season having missed the playoffs the previous four years and now they’re moving on. They’re the team ahead of schedule.

And the Rangers have taken a step back, their fine regular season all for nothing.

The Devils?

“We want more,’’ Hischier said.

“There was pressure on both teams, and our players answered the bell incredibly,’’ Ruff said. “Game 7 is do-or-die. You’re saying ‘goodbye’ after the game.’’

Hello, Devils.

Goodbye, Rangers.