Devils 6, Rangers 1 (Game One)
Not even David Puddy, Joe Piscopo and James McGreevy at their most optimistic would’ve envisioned the sort of run New Jersey (the team, not the Garden State) have been on since Larry Robinson lost his smile (to coin a Shawn Michaels phrase from way back). To call the Devils’ dismantling of the Rangers in this afternoon’s first round playoff opener “clinical” would be quite the understatement ; I sincerely hope whatever is wrong with me, I’m never sent to such a facility (though the Continental Receeding Hairlines Arena is no palace, either).
Devils Due and The Blue Line are engaged in a spirited debate over this series, and I’m very grateful that neither called has the other an ignorant slut.
The Buffalo News’ Tim Graham suggests the key to the Sabres’ hopes in their series with Philly is to “create chaos” for Flyers netminder Robert Esche.
Though I think such a plan has considerable merit (ie. hide his keys, mess with Eshe’s Netflix account, tell everyone that Temple Of Bon Matin are playing at his house after the game, etc.), I suspect the Sabres would settle for scoring more goals than the opposition.
Apparently the Rangers didn’t get Bettman’s memo about how penalties will still be called in the playoffs.
The Devils were so prepared that they even got Jagr to hurt himself.
From ESPN.com’s EJ Hradek :
Holding the puck on his stick just inside his blue line on the penalty kill, Jagr decided to try and deliver a blow to onrushing Devils forechecker Scott Gomez. Jagr, however, missed with his forearm. Gomez was able to gain control of the puck, beginning a sequence that led to Patrik Elias’ second goal of the game.
“At first, I didn’t know what he was doing,” said Gomez, who finished the game with a goal and two assists. “Then, I realized he wanted to hit me. I think he was trying to do something like Peter Forsberg does, when he’s skating fast, hits the breaks and puts his shoulder into you. But, he wasn’t really moving at the time, so I could see it coming.”
When Jagr swung at Gomez, something went wrong. He looked like a big-league pitcher, who heard something pop after throwing a pitch. As Gomez skated away with the puck, Jagr seemed frozen in some sort of discomfort. He flexed his left arm near the Rangers’ bench. Moments later, Elias scored his goal and Jagr headed to the locker room.
They should learn a thing or five from Forsberg. Play dirty, but not in front of the referee, not in the neutral zone, and not in the middle of the ice.
Big win tonight, Rangers in 6.
thanks god for meaningless stats:
“The Rangers have lost 10 straight series openers dating back to Game 1 against the Devils in the epic 1994 Eastern Conference finals… Since the NHL went to all best-of-7 series in 1987, Game 2 has proven far more pivotal. In the 270 series since ’87, Game 2 winners have won 193 for a .715 winning percentage.”