We are back in Newark for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Tonight the Rangers will look to continue to take advantage of mistakes, nut must forecheck the puck into the Devils zone more. New Jersey will try to take advantage of the young New York defense, while keeping with the gameplan that worked in Game 1, but couldn’t score against Henrik Lundqvist.

The Devils may play more desperate tonight because a 2-0 Ranger lead going into the Garden probably spells certain doom for the merry band from New Jersey.  

And a mea culpa: It was Brendan Shanahan who assisted on Nigel Dawes empty netter rather then Chris Drury. That’s what happens when you see it on the way to the elevator. Thanks to my friend in life and hockey, Patrick Hoffman, for pointing that out.

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Well, that looked easy didn’t it?

With the Rangers coming through for two goals in the third, the Blueshirts take home ice back for a 1-0 lead in the series.

And this was a Devil Fans nightmare. Their ‘favorites’ like Scott Gomez and Sean Avery performed and Marty Brodeur looked like a rookie out there [or at least like Mike Dunham] in the third when he tried to handle pucks that should have been just covered up.

Good job by the young Rangers like Callahan and Brandon Dubinsky who didn’t melt under the pressure and good work from Brandan Shanahan scoring the first goal.

The star of the night was Henrik Lundqvist who outplayed Brodeur and could have had a shutout if Marty Straka’s stick didn’t break causing a 5-4 powerplay to be a 5-3 since the Rangers couldn’t clear the puck and Straka couldn’t do too much.

But that’s water under the bridge, because the Callahan and Avery goals were the difference.

And what leadership from Chris Drury at the end of the game, giving the puck to Nigel Dawes for the empty netter so he can get his first goal.

All in all, a nice win.  

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Hi from the Rock in beautiful downtown NJ, where Rangers vs. Devils is now underway.

For the Rangers, the key is to get to the Devils early so they can get a lead and sit on it. Although they can come back from few goals down as proven on Friday, it will be tougher in the playoffs.

That said, the Devils need to hit Henrik Lundqvist as well and do it early. If not this could be a quick series.

Also this may come down to penalties, because one mistake may turn this series.

More later…. 

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This hasn’t been officially announced yet, but the first two games are official

Game 1 – Wednesday 4/9 at 7 p.m in Newark

Game 2 – Friday 4/11 at 7 p.m in Newark

Game 3 – Sunday 4/13 at the Garden

Game 4 – Wednesday 4/16 at the Garden

Game 5 – Friday 4/18* at Newark

Game 6 – Sunday 4/20* at the Garden

Game 7 – Tuesday 4/22* at Newark

*if necessary

We will be firing up this blog full time come Wednesday and will be covering the Rangers in the playoffs for as long as the postseason lasts.

As a side note, I will be away at the end of the month to get married, but will have replacements on the beat during that time. [it will be at the beginning of the second round].

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I will have a full report on NYSD later, but looking at the Knicks schedule, expect the Rangers to start on Thursday, Apr. 10 if the team has home ice, simply because the Knicks have home games on the 9th and 11th.

If they sit in the five hole and play the Devils at the Rock to Start round 1, the Rangers can start on Apr. 9 and then play on Friday for Game 2. Then, it also allows the Rangers to play at MSG on the Sunday, Apr. 13th and then on Tuesday, allowing the Knicks to close out their home schedule with a 40 point Celtic blowout at the Garden on the 14th.  

Now this is all speculation, but they can’t move the Knicks and there may be other events at the Garden preempting the open dates, so this can work if the building is free.

UPDATE: I just looked at the full Garden slate and the building is free on all the days mentioned except Apr. 12 with a NY Titans Lacrosse game at 8 p.m. Now, they can play the playoff game in the afternoon or they can move Game 2 back to 13th [NBC may want that anyway] with the games on the road being on the 15th and 17th.

I also looked at the Prudential Center schedule and the building is pretty much free for the next month, so they can schedule the games when needed.   

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After tonight I think he is.

Look, here’s a guy who is always in the right place at the right time and he works wrll on rebounds, wins faceoffs and comes up with that clutch goal, much like No. 11 did back in the day.

And just wait for the playoffs.

His goal in the third was typical Drury, just being in the right position. His 23 goals leads the team and he has just jelled, giving the Rangers a great third scoring line, which you need in the playoffs.

To me Drury is the Ranger MVP.

Full story on the win on NYSD later tonight.

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Ok, they did set up the offense and they did get some chances, but the power play has to come alive. The Rangers have one going into next period, so let’s see what happens.

Brodeur made some nice saves, but they need more than 14 shots to win this game.

Good job shutting down the Devils – only 10 shots.

More later….

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The 1-0 score held up. It just doesn’t seem like the Rangers are able to set up the offense. Let’s see what changes they will make into the second.

Also their one power play looked bad. If the Devils power play is sponsored by PSE&G then the Rangers is brought to you by the ’77 blackout.

BTW Willie O’Ree, the first black player in the NHL dropped the first puck. A real nice man, you can read more about him here.

More later… 

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Dainius Zubrus scored on the Power Play with Michal Rozsival in the box for a 1-0 Devil lead.

It’s interesting because all season, I don’t remember the Devils taking an early lead like that.

I will have more as it comes in…. 

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Ok, after a few weeks of covering the Mets and some other personal stuff going on, I am back.

Tonight we get the Devils in New Jersey, which should be a blood war if the first five minutes is anything. Sean Avery is already out with a five for fighting and the hits are coming.

But the Rangers are 5-0 this year against the Devils and need this game if they hope to win the division or the East.

More later as it comes in….

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