Game Day Headlines

Lots of series previews in today's papers...

Lynn Zinser at The New York Times thinks the Rangers are using the Devils game plan to win..."This season, the Rangers finished near the bottom of the league in goals this season; they were 25th among 30 teams with 2.5 goals a game. But they ranked fourth in goals allowed, averaging 2.32. They have begun to resemble — dare anyone say — the Devils (who scored 2.42 and gave up 2.35 goals a game)."

Marc Everson at The New York Post gives his series preview..."The Devils will have to make something wild and huge happen to turn this series. Rangers in six."

In his preview John Dellapina at The Daily News says..."Winning in the playoffs no longer is just a bonus for the Rangers; it's a must. Fantasy became franchise focus with last spring's advancement to within 7.7 seconds of playing a closeout game on home ice for a berth in the conference finals. Money was put where the Rangers' minds were when Scott Gomez and Chris Drury (he of the goal for Buffalo with 7.7 seconds left in Game 5 that crushed the 2006-07 Rangers) were signed moments apart last July 1...And Wednesday in Newark, the Rangers' third straight trip to the playoffs begins with a mindset different than the previous two."

Newsday's Steve Zipay says in his preview..."How much confidence did the Devils regain by winning Sunday in the season finale, the only victory in the eight-game series? ... Will Sean Avery pester Brodeur to distraction? Will the brawny line of David Clarkson, Zubrus and Rupp wear down the Rangers defense? How will Marc Staal, Fred Sjostrom and Christian Backman respond in their first playoff games as Rangers? Will the Rangers miss enforcer Colton Orr (broken toe)?"

...man I'm jonesing for this series to start.