They crossed the Hudson and served notice to New Jersey that they weren't particularly afraid to play in the Garden State and with that the New York Rangers claimed a 2 game to 1 lead in their Eastern Final, based mainly on the heroics of their goaltender, the now seemingly undisputed King of New York, Henrik Lundqvist.
The Rangers goaltender shutdown the Devils, besting his cross river rival Martin Brodeur in game three, though if not for Brodeur perhaps the score would have been much, much worse for the home side.
The series so far is coming down to timely goals, the Rangers finding the way to pick up the one or two required to grab a win, the Devils coming up short on two of three games thus far.
Lundqvist simply shuts the Devils down, holding down the fort until the Rangers find some way to put a puck behind Brodeur, not the easiest of fates either, considering the shots on goal from Game 3 which saw the Devils direct 36 towards the King, but as the scoresheet outlines nary one made it behind him.
The Rangers once again relied on Dan Girardi to get things started, Girardi reprised a familiar role when he launched the Rangers first goal of the game a power play marker in the third that set the Rangers on their way, a follow up goal by Chris Kredier two minutes later finished off the Devils, Ryan Callahan's empty net goal late in the game the exclamation point for game three.
The Devils frustrations must be growing by the game, even if they publicly proclaim that's not the case. By all accounts they have for the most part controlled the play for the majority of the first three games, they just don't have the wins in place to claim success.
Game Four offers up another chance to break through the Rangers goal line, you would think eventually that the law of averages might push the Devils to the positive side of the playoff register, but with King Henrik anything but average, it could mean much more of the same when the teams renew acquaintances later today.
Game Four-- New York Rangers 1 at New Jersey 4
The series is tied at 2 games each
Previews and Reviews
POST GAME
New York Post-- Coaches go at it, Rupp hits Brodeur as Devils beat Rangers to even series
New York Post-- Devils turn up thermostat on Rangers
New York Post-- Del Zotto shaky following death in family
New York Post-- Tortorella's tactics can't rescue Rangers
New York Post-- Blueshirts coach 'optimistic' about 3-for-all
New York Post-- Eminger, Bickel get call
New York Post-- Parise: Nothing but net
NY Daily News-- NY Rangers wait too long to get aggressive vs. NJ Devils...
NY Daily News-- NJ Devils, goalie Martin Brodeur get even with NY Rangers ...
NY Daily News-- NJ Devils' Martin Brodeur says punch from NY Rangers Mike Rupp...
NY Daily News-- NY Rangers' Michael Del Zotto has tough weekend ...
Newark Star Ledger-- Devils trying to keep cool but Rangers testing their limits
Newark Star Ledger-- Rangers' slow start spells doom in 4-1 Game 4 loss
Newark Star Ledger-- Devils got feisty performances from Zach Parise and Pete DeBoer
Newark Star Ledger-- Devils' Zach Parise brushes aside negativity to break through...
Newark Star Ledger-- Devils' big offensive weapon in playoffs has been Bryce Salvador
Newark Star Ledger-- Series may be tied, but Rangers' frustration obvious ...
Newark Star Ledger-- Devils blast Rangers, 4-1, to tie series at two as tempers flare
Newark Star Ledger-- John Tortorella, the hockey-coach parody, is better off keeping quiet
USA Today-- Parise lifts Devils to series-tying 4-1 win
USA Today-- Rupp punch dials up intensity in East final
Globe and Mail-- Devils ties series with Rangers at 2-2
Globe and Mail-- Rattled Rangers lose cool and focus
National Post-- Devils even series with Rangers
PRE GAME
New York Post-- Rangers coach accuses Devs of flopping; Prust banned for Game 4
New York Post-- Rangers coach takes shots at Devils
New York Post-- Blueshirts' goal: Seize opportunity, keep Devils down
New York Post-- Kreider's instincts take over
New York Post-- Rangers seize control of Devils series with Lundqvist masterpiece
New York Post-- Rangers shut down Devils' power play
New York Post-- Devils' splitting up Kovalchuk, Parise again
New York Post-- Analysts wrong to credit Capitals style for playoff run
New York Post-- Defensemen scoring goals for Rangers
NY Daily News-- NY Rangers coach John Tortorella finally speaks ...
NY Daily News-- NY Rangers coach John Tortorella knocks NJ Devils for ....
NY Daily News-- Coach John Tortorella and NY Rangers jump to defence of Brandon Prust...
NY Daily News-- NJ Devils Zach Parise gets back to work...
NY Daily News-- Brian Boyle seeks to regain spark for NY Rangers ...
NY Daily News-- NJ Devils' Bryce Salvador is suddenly on the offensive...
NY Daily News-- NY Rangers coach John Tortorella acting like a jerk ins't helping...
Newark Star Ledger-- It's getting desperate on and off the ice
Newark Star Ledger-- Rangers coach Tortorella defends hit resulting in Brandon Prust's suspension
Newark Star Ledger-- Rangers' Brandon Prust suspended one game for hit ...
USA Today-- Tortorella defends Prust, rips Devils
USA Today-- Prust suspended for one game for elbowing
Globe and Mail-- Bedevilled by New York's Blueshirt blockade
Globe and Mail-- Rangers Prust suspended for Game 4
National Post-- Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist making all the difference
National Post-- Rangers use familiar formula to win Game 3 against Devils
National Post-- Devils keep their eyes on the prize
Previous items in the series
Game One
Game Two
Game Three
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