The Rangers backup goaltender Kevin Weekes was given the starting assignment on Monday; his task to try to shut down the Devils attack and give his Ranger team mates a chance to atone for Saturday’s disaster. Weekes tried to hold his end of the bargain as best he could knocking aside 21 shots, but even he couldn’t shut down John Madden.
The New Jersey winger tied an NHL playoff record by scoring two short handed goals on the way to his first ever post season hat trick. The Devils added one more to take game two of the best of seven series 4-1, the Devils once again taking the body, making the plays and out skating the Rangers into submission.
In a regular season that showed such promise, the post season has been more than a disappointment it’s been a disaster. With injuries piling up and confidence running down, the Rangers look all but beaten as they head back to the Gardens for games three and four.
Weekes described it best when he described the state of the Rangers as they finished off game two. "We came out and only got one on Marty (Brodeur)," Weekes said. "Earlier in the year maybe we get four or five but they are playing differently now. They are playing Devils hockey."
And that is a worrisome thing for the Rangers, they can’t seem to compete with the Devils brand, they can’t figure them out and they can’t score on Brodeur.
Unless they solve both of those problems, game four will be the final night of hockey at Madison Square.
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