The Rangers head to Jersey tonight (7:30pm – MSG) for Game 5 and a chance to eliminate the Devils. A win tonight would give them a 4-1 series victory and advancement to the Semifinals, whereas a loss would send the series back to MSG Sunday for a sixth game.
As with the previous games in the series, no one is taking it easy on the Rangers’ side. While west of the Hudson, the talk continues to be about the disappointing series from Martin Brodeur and the Devils’ defense. For the record, Brodeur thinks it’s the defense and not the bumps.
Whether or not it’s because the Rangers are crashing the net, is up for debate, but clearly some have bought into the Devils’ excuses. It’s also prompted some to ask whether the Devils should go after Lundqvist.
Jersey head coach, Ron Sutter wants his team to take gradual steps and not try to win it on one shift.
One comparison that has been made through this season and into the playoffs, is the one between the current Rangers and that of the Devils teams that had success for so many years in the last decade.
Regardless of what happens tonight, some are already looking beyond. The National Post considers the potential match-up of Marc Staal and his younger brother Jordan, while Larry Brooks looks waaaaaaay ahead and the only automatic trigger that Jaromir Jagr has left in his contract, a Conn Smythe Trophy.
Are you sick of reading about Sean Avery yet? This article is amusing if you can get past the slew of anti-hockey references.
The Wolf Pack fell 3-2 in double overtime to the Pirates, and are tied 1-1 heading to Portland for games 3 and 4 in the best of 7 series. Reports from our resident Pack watchers say that Hartford really beat themselves in this game, missing chances when they had them.
NYR
CAR
NYI
WSH
NJD
PHI
PIT
CBJ