I'm at the Prudential Center for Game 1 of Rangers-Devils and I'll be supplying my thoughts all night long.
PRE-GAME:
It was supposed to be “Rock Your Red” night at The Rock, but driving up to the arena I mostly saw Ranger blue streaming from the Path trains arriving at Newark’s Penn Station.
Inside the place is hopping, and I mean hopping! Fans here early ready to, well, I guess rock The Rock. We won’t know until the Rangers or Devils score to see just how many of each club's fans are actually here, but my feeling is that both sides will be loud and boisterous.
The usual Gladiator and AC/DC music is blaring and the fans have found their seats.The teams went through the motions in warmups with no extracurricular activities and are now about to hit the ice.
Playoffs 2008! What a way to host the first playoff game at The Prudential Center! Rangers. Devils. ‘Nuff said.
See ya in between the first and second.
FIRST PERIOD:
With much anticipation for the first period, things went very much as expected.
0-0!
The period was not without good action however. There were plenty of hard hits, with Sean Avery setting the tone, slamming Johnny Oduya into the boards during his first shift.
Scotty Gomez was booed by the Devils fans just as he has been during every other game at The Rock this season.
Both teams had good chances.
The Rangers best chance came when Martin Straka found Jaromir Jagr with a bullet cross-ice pass heading into the Devils zone. Jagr one-timed it, and hit the post.
Later, Brian Gionta, who has been snakebitten all year, was in alone on Henrik Lundqvist and he hit the post.
Both teams had powerplays, but neither capitalized, keeping in-line with their regular season performance with the extra man.
The Rangers will be on the powerplay heading into the second as Paul Martin interfered with Ryan Callahan after a scramble in front of Martin Brodeur, late in the first.
One thing I forgot to mention before the first: the NHL has added “Stanley Cup Playoffs 2008” logos just inside the bluelines and the NHL logos right behind each net.
Looks sharp.
SECOND PERIOD:
The Rangers opened the period with the extra man, and the powerplay looked weak again.
However, and it’s a big however, two seconds after Martin left the penalty box, Brendan Shanahan scored on wrister from the right side. It looked as if Gomez might have tipped it in, as he was camped out right in front of his old buddy Brodeur.
The goal was Shanahan’s 59th career playoff goal and scored 1:45 into the second.
Now, with the Rangers leading 1-0, Jay Pandolfo headed to the box giving the Rangers another powerplay. This time the Blueshirts looked great with the extra man and did everything but score. They kept the puck in the Devils zone for nearly two minutes. Perhaps having the Devils best penalty killer in the box helped things out.
It appears as if the Rangers have the edge so far.
With 13:11 left in the second, Gomez barely gets his stick on Bryce Salvador but he is called for a hook as it appears the officials are calling this game tight.
On the powerplay, the Devils set up well in the Devils zone and Straka lost his stick making the powerplay a 5 on 3, and the Devils capitalized. Patrik Elias sent a cross-ice pass to Martin on the right side and after stopping the puck for a second, Martin shot and beat Lundqvist for the equalizer. Time of the goal was 14:14.
Despite many Ranger fans being at The Rock, it’s a Devils crowd, as they wave their white towels celebrating the Martin PPG.
The teams go end to end with great action. Two brilliant saves highlighted the last few minutes of the period. One each for the two goalies. Lundqvist robbed Elias and then shortly after, Brodeur gloved a Shanahan bullet, headed for the net.
Score is 1-1, heading into the third. Should be a wild period.
Playoff hockey. I love it!
THIRD PERIOD:
The period started with some nervous energy as both clubs seemed a bit tentative.
5:24 into the third, Michal Rozsival is called for holding the stick and the Rangers would have to kill a Devil power play that already netted one goal on the night.
Shorthanded, Callahan and Gomez break into the Ranger zone 2 on 2; they exchange passes and Gomez finally shoots on Brodeur from the right side. Brodeur had trouble finding the puck as it sat in the crease for what seemed forever. Callahan swooping around the net found the puck and put it past a stunned Brodeur.
A shorty!!!
2-1 Rangers!!!
Man, how many times have we seen a Ranger beat Brodeur coming from behind the net in the playoffs?
Anytime the Devils are behind the feeling is that they have a hell of a hole to dig out of, and it is no different here.
With about nine minutes left Ryan Hollweg replaced Jagr on during a shift as it appeared as if Jagr took a stick to the mouth. Jagr is visibly bothered on the bench but looks OK.
With 6:09 remaining, Brandon Dubinsky off-balance hits Jaime Langenbrunner with his stick in the face -- good thing he added the visor this year, Stan -- giving the Devils an all important powerplay.
The Devils are unable to mount any sustained pressure with the extra man and Dubinsky returns.
The pressure is on the Devils now, with only three and a half minutes remaining.
Thirty seconds later, Gomez broke into the Ranger zone but was shielded off from taking a shot on the left wing. He smartly swung the puck back out in front of the net where my man Sean Avery made no mistake about it.
3-1 Rangers!!!
Avery does his patented fist pump, down on one knee, and it appears as if the Rangers have iced Game One.
With 4.5 seconds left, Nigel Dawes adds the empty netter after receiving a pass unselfishly from Shanahan.
4-1 Final, and home-ice advantage now back to the Rangers.
MORE:
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
Want to speak your mind about the big issues in the world of sports? Here's your chance!
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
TODAY'S HOT TOPIC:
Want to speak your mind about the big issues in the world of sports? Here's your chance! 
