The Jersey City Desk 2016 NHL Playoffs Preview

Johnny didn't talk much about hockey this past regular season. He doesn't like the Rangers or most of their fans, and the Devils never did anything to get excited about. Johnny was mad at his Red Wings at several points this year as he noticed issues popping up that weren't addressed in a way Johnny liked and he watched young players not take the next step under a coach they were familiar with and should have flourished under. But, as they always do for a Wings fan, the playoffs have come around agains for the 25th straight year. Let's take a look at the conference quarterfinals shall we?

Detroit vs Tampa Bay - The Bolts should have all the advantages here but they don't do they? A lot of top flight prognosticators are taking the underdog Wings. Tampa Bay is without several key players up front and on the back end. Tyler Johnson who torched the Wings in the playoffs last year is a game time decision. There's an old adage in hockey this time of year, beware the veteran team that underachieved in the regular season. While the Wings are rather young they do have key vets in Zetterberg, Kronwall, Richards, Green and Pavel Datsyuk. A lesser Wings team took a better Lightning team to 7 games last spring before losing. This year it's Wings in 7.

Washington vs Philadelphia - Yeah, but it's Washington everyone keeps saying. Yes, yes it is but even Washington can get through one series as President's Trophy winners. The Flyers are hot coming in and playing with confidence. If they take one of the first this could be a long series with Washington winning. If the Caps win both at home it's over in 5 at worst.

New York Islanders vs Florida - The first-place Panthers on paper should have no trouble with the plucky Isles who are close to being a very good team but need to figure out how that last jump happens. It hasn't yet. The Panthers in 6 but perhaps the Isles can take a pound of flesh from Florida for their troubles like that famed Toronto series years back.

New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh - The most evenly matched of the first eastern series' to be sure. The Penguins keep telling everyone they're done with all the choking and Sidney Crosby is ready to roll. The Rangers have become a pretty reliable playoff team (Of course everyone tore up their brackets the day Michigan State lost too) with a roster built for this time of year and a coach who doesn't panic. Johnny likes the Rags in 7 here.

Still here? OK, the West, where lots of teams get opportunities to hoist the cup now that Detroit is in the East (Yes Wings fans are insufferable this time of year but also awesome).

Chicago vs St Louis - We've seen this set-up time and time again with St. Louis. They're in a home ice advantage, they have what looks like a great team and then they face a Chicago or Detroit and it all goes sideways quickly. The Hawks are battle tested and even with just one great line this time around Johnny thinks knows that until St. Louis actually wins a big series he's picking Chicago. The Blues have to be the biggest disappointment in the Western Conference come playoff time since...

San Jose vs Los Angeles - ...The Sharks. Year after year after decade we hear about how THIS without a doubt is the year Team Teal breaks through with their awesome talent, their great coaching and wild fan support and every year it's the same goddamned thing, pfffffffft. The Kings are trying to build a dynasty at the same time the Hawks are. To watch a Hawks vs Kings series later would be divine. Good thing the Kings only have to dispatch the Sharks in 6 here.

Dallas vs Minnesota - The old North Stars vs the new North Stars with he Wild name. What a wonderful reunion of Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Nobody cares

Nashville vs Anaheim - A lot of people are simply checking off the Ducks box in their brackets without giving too much thought to the series to be played. Here's Johnny's possible red light upset special. The Predators score a LOT of goals from their defensemen. A lot. They shoot hard, often and well. How many times is the deciding shot late in a tie game or overtime a tipped point shot or a screen? If the Nashville forwards can somewhat limit the Ducks one big line and they do get a couple BB's into the back of the net, this series gets real interesting real fast. Preds in 7.

The Rangers and Islanders are all set for the playoffs

The matchups are finally set for the first round of the NHL playoffs next week. The #1 Rangers will play #8 Pittsburgh and Crybaby Cindy Crosby whom the MSG fans will no doubt make feel right at home. The Islanders will face Washington with the old barn, the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, hosting one last playoff series. More on the matchups later this week.

Original Six nirvana tonight kids -- Red Wings vs Rangers

What a tasty matchup NBCSN has tonight for us puck junkies and for those who just enjoy a good game on a snowy March night. The Rangers, playing well and near the top of their division head to the Cathedral of Hockey®, Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The Wings are hot as well and looking to jump over Tamp Bay in their divisional race. Both teams as you read here yesterday will have their newest additions on hand and in the lineup tonight. Keith Yandle will make his Blueshirt debut while Marek Zidlicky and Erik Cole will play for Detroit.

Ranger fans, we know you're all about tradition as Johnny is. Whether you've loved or hated Joe Louis Arena this will be one of your last couple trips there. The new arena will be built in a couple years time and the history that is JLA will be gone. There weren't a lot of big moments between the teams over the last 35 years, the Domi and Probert bouts come to mind, but it's always nice to have old friends over for a warm comfy old barn.

Oh, by the way Rangers fans, the number you'll again be asking yourselves the answer is 54. 54 banners hanging at JLA. And simply to talk some shit, our retired #9 is better than both your #9's combined.

So come on down to the War Memorial, we've got fun for the whole family

The NHL trade deadline has come and gone and while no really big game changers was traded it's all about the subtle improvements to steel a team for a long run in the hardest tournament in the world to win.

The Rangers perhaps made the biggest splash landing Arizona's great offensive defenseman Keith Yandle. Yandle had long been rumored to be on the block with the ownership issues for the Coyotes and a need to cut salary. The Rangers were the team to finally step up and pay the steep price it was going to take; forward Anthony Duclair, defenceman John Moore, a conditional first-round pick in 2016 and a second-round pick in 2015. Yandle immediate improves the Rags powerplay and will help in breaking them out of their own end with his sharp passing. Johnny is quite interested in whom they pair Yandle with.

Yandle should be available to play for the Rangers tomorrow night in Detroit which brings us to the Devils move yesterday, trading skilled defenseman Marek Zidlicky to the Red Wings for a conditional third-round pick in 2016. In Zidlicky the Wings get someone who can step into their second-pairing and add depth to what is currently the best powerplay in the NHL. Should the Wings win the East the pick becomes a second-round choice.

The Islanders added a backup netminder in Michal Neuvirth from the Buffalo Sabres for goaltender Chad Johnson and a conditional 2016 third-round pick. Neuvirth has a bad record (Ahem, Buffalo) but some very solid numbers; 6-17-3 in 27 games this season with a 2.99 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. The Isles also added some depth up front by trading for forward Tyler Kennedy from the San Jose Sharks for a 2016 conditional third-round pick. Kennedy has only four goals and has played sparingly.

Johnny thinks of the three the Rangers won the day. Your thoughts?

NHL Trade deadline day

So Johnny will be watching TSN Trade Centre all day monitoring all the Red Wings, Rangers, Islanders and Devils trades on the day. Back later today with analysis.

New York Rangers fans, are you gonna sit there and take this?

The Hockey News is counting down the top NHL logos and your team's famous crest and shield look rated no better than #14.

To enrage you another way, the Buffalo Sabres are going to outrank you. Here you go, vent your rage here.

World Cup Today -- Day Two

So soccer fans we had a great matinee yesterday except for the referee who has most likely seen HIS World Cup come to an end but there's more games today baby, three in fact with one being a real firecracker!

Mexico vs Cameroon at noon -- Mexico must win this game to have any chance to advance.

Spain vs Netherlands at 3pm -- A rematch of the 2010 Final right out of the box. All eyes on Spain in this one, how strong are they against good competition.

Chile vs Australia at 6pm -- Sorry Soccerroos, you've got the worst draw in the tournament.

And add to these games a Game 5 tonight in Los Angeles for the Rangers and you have a very full day on the couch.

The quintessential Stanley Cup Final preview; Rangers vs Kings!

It seems just two short years ago the Devils dispatched the heavily favored Rangers at the Prudential Center in game 6. The Rangers were favorites to make the cup final out of the east but indeed fell short. Two years and a new coach later the Rangers have returned to the Final for the first time since 1994.

So New York vs. L.A. Kings vs. Rangers. East vs. West. What's it all about Johnny?

These teams are such a mirror image of each other, strong young defense protecting a great netminder and teams that like to get the forecheck going to let their defense work through the middle. So what are the little differences that will make all the difference in the end? Let's find out.

The Kings have one of the best two-way forwards playing in Anze Kopitar. He's been nothing short of amazing and otherworldly some nights. He reminds Johnny a little of Sergei Fedorov back in his days in Detroit. Freakishly fast, able to cover a mistake, checks the opposing centers into the ground and yes, scores. Jeff Carter is only the second line center and has almost as many points as Koptiar. Add to that former Rangers castoff Marian Goborik who has finally found his comfort zone seemingly in L.A. and the Kings have a very scary couple of scoring and checking lines. The Rangers may actually be deeper up front than the Kings but to have that aspect possibly play out someone named Rick Nash is finally going to have to carry his weight offensively. The Rangers will need scoring from Nash to take the pressure off Richards and St. Louis whom the Kings will be all over. The biggest advantage of the entire series for L.A. will be their faceoff winning percentage and how they hold onto the puck. They are an elite possession team and to do that one must win faceoffs and plenty of them. The Rangers cannot cede this battle to the Kings. The Rangers HAVE to be close to 50/50 on faceoffs or they already start the play chasing the faster Kings. One thing, and it's a dicey thing to call an advantage, is the Kings have "ice assassins" in guys like Dustin Brown that are willing to not only throw an elbow or take a head shot that can turn a series, they don't much seem to care they are doing it, which is sad.

Defensively both teams sport fantastic, young, strong bluelines. The Rangers have one of the absolute breakout stars of the 2014 playoffs in Ryan McDonagh, who along with Dan Girardi have been very solid. The Rags #2 pairing of Marc Staal and Anton Stralman has been better than advertised going into the playoffs. The Kings also have a great young defensive corps led by Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin. The Kings also have a good #2 pairing with Alec Martinez and Slava Voynow. We'd say the Kings have an ever so-slight advantage here.

Goaltending stands to be the Rangers biggest advantage IF the Rangers can stop the Kings puck possession game. They can't hang King Henrik out to dry. He's great but he's not Terry Sawchuk, not yet. Everyone talks about the Kings netminding advantage with Olympic goalie and 1012 Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Quick. As Lee Corso is fond of saying, "Not so fast my friend." The Rangers DO have a decided advantage in Lundqvist. Quick has given up 13 goals in his last 3 games. He's not been the shut 'em out goalie he was in 2012. Advantage Rangers.

Both teams have played a LOT of hockey this spring. Harry Neale, the great CBC announcer, used to say you wanted to make the Final having taken no more than 15 or 16 games to stay fresh and ready. Well the Rangers have already played two seven game series and the Kings have played the maximum 21 games to get to this point. Conditioning will matter but we don't think unless there is a major injury this will be the difference maker.

So, without going into micro-managing stats we'll say this. These teams are mirrors of one another and the one who plays their game better will win. Johnny will be cheering for the Rangers as it's an Original Six thing. That respect goes back many many decades and it's like a brother fighting for the title. That being said here's Johnny's fearless forecast:

L.A. Kings in seven games.

P.S. You are ALL going to hate Eric Cartman by the end of this series? Don't know what Johnny is talking about? You will....

Sunday funday

A gorgeous Sunday in the Tri-state seemingly has everyone out and about. Dear Rangers fan in Lundqvist sweater and your girlfriend in a King Henrik t-shirt. Do understand when you say things about Johnny's Red Wings t-shirt, referring not getting out of the first round, you ARE going to have your morning ruined by asking if one cup every 74 years is real satisfying. What did you expect ya goof? Johnny understands your excitement.

Been there. A lot.

So the Rangers will find out their dance partner in the Stanley Cup Final tonight, game 7 in Chicago at 8pm. Johnny will have to catch up in the third period. As nice as a game 7 sounds THIS is fighting to the death tonight at 9 so yeah, Patrick Kane can wait:

Johnny thinks Rangers fans should be cheering for Chicago, more on that after the Final matchup is set.

The ferry to NYC continues all year long at the $2.50 discounted pice so do take advantage. Paulus Hook is the place you want to catch it.

The Staten Island Expressway looked like Giligan's Island earlier today.

See ya outside!

It's a rainy Wednesday, perfect for a News Roundup!

*Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop told Congress Superstorm Sandy aid distribution to our fair city has been a disaster.

*The FBI conducted a raid at the Barge Inn on Third and Monmouth yesterday.

*The body pulled from the shore in Hoboken was indeed that of missing jogger Andrew Jarzyk.

*The couple that jumped to their deaths from the GW Bridge the other day were wanted in a murder investigation

*The Rangers will play a game 7 tonight vs. The Sillydelphia Flyers at MSG.

*A Dallas firm is rehabbing the giant Morgan Warehouse in the Powerhouse Arts District rather than build another 38 story rental property eyesore. Good on them.

Hockey sage Johnny tries to make sense of the Rangers vs. Flyers series

The Rangers and Flyers open an Metropolitan Division quarter-final tonight over at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers finished second in the Metropolitan Division with 96 points while the Flyers were third with 94 points. Let's get a closer look at what matters.

The Rangers surrendered only 193 goals in the regular season while the Flyers gave up 235 (which is only one more than they scored all season as well). If you can hurry up and name the Philadelphia netminder go ahead and yell out his name. Go ahead. Well there you go, that's a big difference isn't it? Everyone knows Henrik Lundqvist is tip top come playoff time and always among the regular season top stat guys. Now, the Flyers haven't had a go to shut em down goaltenders since.....since....again, advantage Rangers.

Philadelphia had a better faceoff win % at 50% this season yet the Rags were ranked #11 at 48% while Philadelphia was ranked #14. Odd that. This is a very key stat for the team with a considered weaker defense and goaltending. The Flyers have to somehow win the faceoff game. The game within the game. Who were the top 7 teams this season in faceoffs? Boston, Anaheim, Colorado, St. Louis, San Jose, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. How'd they do in the standings? Exactly. Advantage? Up for grabs.

In Johnny's humble opinion the Flyers up front are terribly talented but terribly moody. If their game is working they are worldbeaters. Trouble for them come playoff time is there are too many ways to gank up their offensive machinery. You can goad them off their game. You can play in your face hard forechecking to keep them bottled up. Most of all you play a grind it out slam bang corners game. Orange and black always makes you look bigger than you are. Advantage? We'll see won't we? If the Flyers are willing to fight the entire seven games (oops, spoiler alert) then advantage Philly. It's been quite a while since they could say that however.

The Rangers playoff forwards take an even bigger step forward with Martin St. Louis skating for the Blueshirts. He's money come playoff time. If New York can get anything out of Rick Nash who is quickly getting a reputation for playing his way onto milk cartons this time of year, it would free up not only St. Louis but Derek Stepan and Brad Richards. We like the Rangers versatility up front and that they spread the goals around. We give the NY offense the advantage over the Flyers defense.

One area we do like the Flyers in is penalty killing. The Philadelphia 6 have improved markedly since Caraig Berube took over the pk duties last year before being named head man this year. Which brings us to...

Berube has had no playoff coaching experience and we think is pretty much coach because the Flyers bungled the firing of Peter Laviolette as the season was already starting and had no other options than Berube to be truthful. Alain Vigneault has more playoff experience in big games than Berube but checkered it is given all the talent he had in Vancouver and only made the Final one time. We'll give Vigneault the nod here obviously.

But which team, which city will have bragging rights Johnny?

Rangers in seven.

Don't forget the Devils and Rangers play outside at Yankee Stadium today!

12:30pm and we're gonna have some outdoor puck over in the Bronx. You still have time to make it should you wanna go watch the game but if not it'll be on the teevee. Here's the game preview for you, the discerning hockey fan.

A wee it of NY Rangers news today

The CBC is reporting that the Rags will sign former Vancouver head coach Alain Vigneault to a 5 year $10 million contract and an announcement is imminent. Out is Tortorella who actually won a Stanley Cup in Tampa Bay but whose tough-guy act had run its course at 34th and 7th. Vigneault came within a game of winning with the Canucks falling in game 7 to Boston. Former Rangers defenseman Ulf Samuelsson, one of the dirtiest SOB's to ever play the game, may well wind up behind the bench as well.

It's a national holiday in the US and Canada!

Or rather, it should be.

The NHL playoffs begin today (Hey Jeff Vanderbeek, enjoy them on teevee, you have nobody to blame but yourself) and so many first round series' have intrigue and involve long-time rivals.

Johnny's first round picks you ask?

Chicago over Minnesota in 4 because it can't be 3.

Detroit over Anaheim in 6 or 7. These teams meet like clockwork in the playoffs don't they?

San Jose over Vancouver. It's the playoffs and like always the Canucks are a mess. Sharks in 6.

It'd be great if St. Louis won. Johnny would like to see the Blues win a cup one day. But the Kings have had the Blues number. Kings in 7
___________

Pittsburgh over the overmatched Islanders in 4. Unless Darius Kasparaitis and David Volek plan on suiting up.

Boston over Toronto in 5. Toronto would have been better off playing Montreal but Ottawa ganked that up.

Capitals and Rangers. Hmmmmm, for five minutes Johnny think the Caps will win and for the next five he thinks it'll be the Rangers. Just flipped a coin. Rangers in 7.

Montreal and Ottawa. And CBC will STILL show the Leafs. Montreal in 6.

So dear readers, who ya got?!

The NHL is back! Dear Devils, please don't call Johnny

Late last night the NHL players and owners reached an agreement on the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement and thus will begin the process of putting in place some sham 48 game season starting later this month. Johnny will no doubt have more analysis on the deal later but it would appear that Gary Bettman finally met his negotiating match in Donald Fehr. Fehr didn't care if the season got cancelled. The players he represented cared but were willing to take a ziggy on a season. The owners, who Bettman no doubt told the players union would fold again, were not willing to waste an entire season. So off we go on a truncated NHL season. And a commissioner who looks worse if possible than he did eight months ago.

Which brings us to the fact the Devils ticket office will now be working overtime to get butts in the seats to not watch Zach Parise play (remember Zach Parise?). While not a season ticket holder Johnny does attend quite a few games out at the Rock as he prefers the building to the one at MSG which is cramped, dark, and people wander around too much during play for Johnny's tastes. The Islanders can't get to Brooklyn fast enough. So, Devils ticket sellers, you're going to call Johnny. The first time he will be polite in telling you that your owner, Jeff Vanderbeek is part of the ownership problem in the NHL and just cost the league half a season and countless goodwill. The ticket agent will be reminded politely that Vanderbeek is a "taker" when it comes to team revenues. Vanderbeek happily accepts money from the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Red Wings and other successful teams, like the Rangers.

All this will be explained in a friendly matter-of-fact way. THE FIRST TIME ONLY. Call back and you'll get the wrath of the scorned NHL fan. Yes, this is a breakup letter with the Devils. No more. 

So the NHL is back yet sadly Gary Bettman still walks the earth. Ah well, you can't get everything you want on one day. 

It would be legally, morally and ethically wrong to toss Gary Bettman off the Chrysler Building...

...but if someone decides to do it can you film it so the rest of the REAL hockey lovers can enjoy it many many times? Devils fans, your organization is complicit in this coming rant, you know Johnny loves you but, well, facts are facts.

Gary Bettman (hereafter to be known in this rant as "Commissioner Jackhole") has shut down the NHL again for a few of his owner friends. Not ALL owners mind you, no, just these captains of industry who demand to own a team in a SOCIALIST system. Set salary caps, tax the workers more every time to put money in the state's hands. When you want to extract more money just shut down the plant. Yes many of Commissioner Jackhole's "southern strategy" teams aren't doing so well. All that buy in cash in the form of franchise fees is long gone, those teams never could support themselves and it kicks off this spiral of lockout after lockout after lockout (3 on Mr. Jackhole's watch as the NHL's fearless leader).

Like we said, not all owners are with the Commissioner on this. They have successful teams built the right way. Unlike say, mmmm, The Minnesota Wild. A team that just busted the bank for two all-star players KNOWING they were in mere months going to look to Gary Bettman and say "Cut their piece of the pie, it's killing my bottom line. I just can't do business like this."

In other words it's not "don't stop me before I spend again" but "please protect me when I do."

If I were a Devils fan I'd be very worried right now. They are ready-built hockey "markets" out there like Kansas City, Portland/Seattle (because Vancouver needs a playmate) and some say they might put a professional team in Columbus one day. Honey Badger Gary doesn't give a shit as long as there might be a couple more franchise fees to gnaw on.

Something else Commissioner Jackhole won't discuss that much folks, revenue sharing. These failing franchises are being wheezed back to life yearly by the revenue sharing wherein teams like the Rangers, Red Wings, Canadiens, Flyers and a few others pay millions to prop up Nashville, Carolina, Florida, the artists formerly known as the Thrashers, Phoenix and a handful of others (Yes Devils this is where you fit in). More socialism from the lower end owners again. See if this is how business works; The Canadiens pay X millions in revenue sharing and money from that pot goes to say Nashville so Nashville has money to bid against the Canadiens for free agents and such. And as long as this kind of untoward thing goes on should these poorer market owners be able to shake down the players for more money after the players caved 7 years ago to the owners demand of a salary cap? These owners signed that deal.

Commissioner Jackhole you come off as a miserable little petty man in all this. A sniveling huckster who happens to have a trump card. You sneer from behind your office windows at hockey fans you spew platitudes at. You don't know how hockey fans feel because you're not one. You had never attended an NHL game before you became commissioner, you said it yourself.

Johnny's going to give the last words on this to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun:

Almost every time Gary Bettman opens his mouth, I have this tendency to want to slam my fist right into it.

And I’m not, in any way, what you’d call a violent person.

It’s his way, his voice, his condescension, his verbal cadence, his don’t-you-understand-I’m-the-smartest-man-in-the-room vibe that makes him so impossible to believe or trust.

So here we are again, held hostage by the NHL boss for the third time — a distinguished record of most work stoppages by one commissioner — with an absolutely unnecessary lockout, his league with record revenues, the players with record high salaries, fighting over increments and percentages. And this time, without a need to change the game, without a philosophical argument, with Bob Goodenow long gone, there is no one to truly detest from the players’ side.

NHL free agency dawns

Well, as much as something can dawn at noon. Zach Parise, Marty Brodeur, Bryce Salvador are the big names in play for the Devils while the Rangers are rumored to be dangling Brandon Dubinsky and Michael Del Zotto and picks for the Blue Jackets' Rick Nash. As a Red Wings fan Johnny is more than interested in today's goings on. Suter, Semin, Doan, all names that could fond new homes today and in the next little while.

What say you hockey fans, who lands where and which if any of their free agents do the Devils re-sign? Tell us your thoughts in comments.

MATTEAU! MATTEAU!, er wait, HENRIQUE! HENRIQUE! HENRIQUE!

DEVILS WIN IN OT! Onto the Final!

Adam Henrique scored early in overtime and the Devils dispatched the top seeded New York Rangers tonight 3-2 at the Prudential Center. Just about everything Johnny predicted for this series has come to pass including his call of Devils in 6 games. If you'd like to be creeped out even more on the Jersey Journal web page asking fans to predict headlines for tomorrow morning Johnny posted "Henrique is King! Adam's 2nd OT Goal Sends Devils to Final." Just one overtime off.

That's right kids, when you want hockey analysis you come here, leave the guesswork to the beat writers and teevee talking heads.

The Final begins Wednesday night at the Prudential Center at 8 pm. Ranger fans can tune in on NBC.

A night years in the making

Johnny doesn't have to mention game 6 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Final to Devils fans. They live with that ache every game. Johnny doesn't have to mention it to Rangers fans because they never shut up about it. Tonight is a chance for the Devils franchise and fans to cut that pain in half.

As Johnny said going into this series this is not the Messier/Leetch vs Brodeur/Stevens series, it's a new generation of Callahan and Lundqvist vs. Parise and Kovalchuk. The torch has been passed. To the players tonight means so very very much, to Devils fans it matters more. They have lived with the guarantee for many moons. Players move on to play elsewhere or move away when they retire. Fans stay local or loyal to the Devils. Don't say there is no equivalence, oh there sure is. The mighty Rangers in the swamps of Jersey looking to stay alive and an entire blue fanbase ready to bang their heads into walls.

John Tortorella said after the Devils won game five he felt the Rangers finally found their game. They really knew what they were doing. They got it together. He felt they would carry the effort forward.

That's one way to look at it. Here's another. The Rangers, after they got behind 3-0 had to come up with  a haymaker. The Rangers are a proud team. They responded. But how much effort did an already tired team expend to come back and tie but ultimately lose expend? Maybe that was the Rangers best shot.

In the history of people saying the first goal is important tonight underscores that by a hundred. If the Devils get out first, and start the effective game that has frustrated the Rangers all good things are possible. Don't give the Rangers a sniff. Keep dumping the puck into Del Zotto's corner and spin the wheel and see what creative play Del Zotto comes up with to turn the puck over. Go ahead by two goals tonight and Charon starts readying the boat, and Devils fans start up a collection of obolus' to pay Charon, for the Rangers crossing to watching the Final on television.

Call it what you will, reclaiming honor, getting a monkey off your backs, payback, it has been called many things, and the New Jersey Devils have a chance at it tonight in their building in front of mostly their fans on their terms. On national television they have a chance to defend their keep and strike at fatal blow to their greatest enemy.

As Tyrion Lannister says on this upcoming week's Game of Thrones; "There are brave men knocking at our door, let's go kill them!!" (and don't get bunged up about a quote using the word kill, free the metaphors!)