Posts tagged ‘Devils’

If the Rangers are able to win tonight in Montreal they will not only pull off a season series sweep of the Habs for the first time in six years, but they could be as close as four points out of the top spot in the East by the end of the night.

Think about that for a second…4 points!

Considering that as little as 4 days ago this team was out of the playoff picture, that’s pretty incredible.

On the podcast a couple of episodes ago, Eric and I had a debate about whether or not the Rangers had a realistic shot of making the Stanley Cup Finals.  I said they absolutely did.  If they pull out tonight’s game north of the border, I don’t think there should be any question about it.

Right now, Montreal is tied with New Jersey and Ottawa for the top spot in the East.  If the Rangers win tonight, they will be a combined 9-0 against the Canadiens and Devils.  I know they’re 1-3 against the Sens, but the Ottawa team the Rangers played before the New Year is not the same team they would play in the playoffs.

A win tonight and the Rangers are 9-3-1 in their last 12 and are officially hot.  I’m not saying you should bet your mortgage on them at this point, but I am saying that, if they win tonight, it’s time to hop back on the bandwagon. 

Yes, the Rangers have lost 3 in a row. Yes, they have played, for lack of a better word, like crap. Yes, they have fallen from within two points of the conference lead to within 2 points of being out of the playoff picture.
And yes, the Devils have won nine in a row. Yes, they have climbed from the Atlantic Division cellar to the Atlantic Division throne. Yes, Marty Brodeur is playing like, well…Marty Brodeur.

But all it takes to change everything above is one game. A win today by the Rangers and everything gets erased. A win today puts the Rangers right back into first place in the Atlantic and makes them 4-0 against the Debbies this year.

And sure, everything right now is pointing to a Devils domination, but its games like today that get the blood pumping. Lundqvist has sat out the last four periods, his longest stretch of the season. He’ll be ready. Gomez wants to show everyone he made the right choice by crossing the Hudson. He’ll be ready. Brendan Shanahan, well, he’s Shanny. He’ll be ready. And as much as Captain Jags has been struggling, he knows what’s at stake. He’ll be ready.

The one guy that won’t be ready is Sean Avery. This is his type of game, so somebody else needs to step up in his place. And if you’re asking my opinion…somebody will!

I don’t know what it is. Maybe its just blind stupidity, but I woke up this morning and felt good about today’s game. I’m expecting a big turnaround.

Will it happen? Maybe, maybe not, but one thing’s for sure. If it does, the last couple of weeks will be erased and the Blueshirts will be back!