The Devils and Rangers: Shades of the 1994 Series

As promised, the series between the Devils and the Rangers is a wild one, filled with intensity and some obvious bad blood. It is filled with fights, with rough hits (even Martin Brodeur was shoved in the last game), and quite a few penalty minutes. Even the coaches seem intent on ridiculing each other in press conferences and getting in one another's face during the actual game.

            Yes, it's already one of the most heated rivalries in the sport, and now, it is producing one of the most heated playoff series in recent memory.  Remember earlier this season, when three fights broke out simultaneously less than three seconds after the puck was dropped to start the game? So, we knew this was going to be heated.

            The Devils enjoyed their first convincing victory of the series last night, jumping out to an early 1-0 lead, and then getting some cushion with a second goal in the 1^st period. They never looked back, playing stingy defense, bolstered by the legendary goaltending of Martin Brodeur, as they held the Rangers to no goals going into the final period. They got a third goal as well, before than Rangers finally managed to produce a goal of their own. But this game was never really in doubt, as the Devils took it comfortably, 4-1.

            The Rangers had a pair of convincing wins, at least on paper. They won both Game 1 and Game 3 in eerily similar fashion, with the Devils outplaying them early on, but failing to actually score. Those games remained scoreless until the third period, when the Rangers finally broke through after a long and tense scoreless game to take the lead, and in both games, they followed that up quickly with another goal to provide a bit more comfort zone, and went on to win, 3-0, fr both games.

            In the meantime, the Devils, who really have been outplaying the Rangers throughout the series in everything but the scoreboard, had barely eked out a 3-2 victory in Game 2, which has been a notoriously a bad game in each series that the New York Rangers have participated in throughout these playoffs, having lost all three Game 2's in all three series thus far.

            Still, going into last night's game, there was a feeling that the Devils had not yet broken through, and played up to their potential. Maybe they had outplayed the Rangers through the series to this point, but they did not have the actual results to show for it, down 2 games to 1, and having been outscored 8 goals to 3.

            So, they were overdue for a convincing win, and finally got it, making Henrik Lundqvist look mortal, for once. The Rangers were clearly outclassed, outmuscled, and outhustled throughout the night, and this time, it finally showed on the most important element of the game: the scoreboard.

            Now, it is a three game series. Game 5 will be at Madison Square Garden, and Game 6 will be at the Prudential Center. If need be, Game 7, the deciding game, will be played at Madison Square Garden. Given that the Rangers have literally never lost a Game 7 that they hosted at Madison Square Garden (that includes the legendary series between these two teams way back in 1994, when the Rangers last won the Stanley Cup, before the Devils ever had won it), that could actually be the deciding factor. Yet, this has the feel of a seven game series.

            One way or the other, it has been a very entertaining, and intense, series. Exactly what you want to see in playoff hockey. It should also prove to be memorable, to boot, and it should be interesting to see the handshakes after this one is all over.

            As for my prediction? Well, yes, I predicted the Devils to win, and I will stick with that. No reason that I can see to change that now. Not sure whether it will take six or seven games, but it seems the Devils are still the team that is dictating the tempo thus far, and that should decide this one.