Rangers @ Devils

As John F. puts so well, the Rangers are to be hated. So...on to the hatred.

--FIRST PERIOD--

DEVILS - 1 || RANGERS - 0

Goal: John Madden, Devils at 18:32 (Assists: Brylin, Pandolfo)
Shots on goal: 9-5 Devils
Penalties: Offsetting Roughing Minors (Rozsival, Rangers) (Rupp, Devils)

Elias and John Madden (no, not that John Madden) are crashing the net tonight. Brodeur has not really been tested. The Devils are quick to the puck tonight and playing that well-known DEVILS HOCKEY. Sarge is continuing his crazy points streak with an assist on the breakaway to Madden. Overall, pretty pleased right now.

--SECOND PERIOD--

DEVILS - 1 || RANGERS - 1

Goal: Michael Nylander, Islanders (PPG) at 14:56 (Assists: Michal Rozsival, and a "thank you" to Scott Gomez)
Shots on goal: 11-6 Rangers
Penalties: Hooking (Pock, Rangers)
Tripping (Gomez, Devils)

Well, that really flipped on itself. To do what almost every announcer does and steal from Charles Dickens in order to make a sports allegory, it was a tale of two periods. The Rangers did what the Devils did in the first, pushing the tempo and firing shots on goal. The Devils were flat, content with sitting on the lead. Well, they don't have the lead anymore. Brodeur definitely should have handled Nylander's shot, especially since he got a glove on it. Oh well though. You live and learn. Heading into the third......should be a good time.

--THIRD PERIOD--

DEVILS - 2 || RANGERS - 2

Goal: Petr Prucha, Islanders at 9:05 (Assists: Jagr, Rachunek)
Goal: Jamie Langenbrunner, Devils (PPG) at 15:48 (Assists: Gionta, Gomez)
Shots on goal: 6-5 Devils
Penalties: Hooking (Nylander, Rangers)
Tripping (Pock, Rangers)

Whew. Caught a break there. The powerplay was not working at all, but then the Devils got to keep it in the offensive zone and put one in. Nice play. You hate to give a division rival (and a hated rival at that) a point, but at least the Devils will get a point. Let's hope they get two. Time for the extra session.

--OVERTIME--

No dice. Marty stood up under pressure. See ya on the other side, folks.