No panic from Rangers coach ahead of do-or-die Game Six
(Thu, 24 May 2012 19:19:26 PDT)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Rangers coach John Tortorella is drawing confidence from a loss to the New Jersey Devils that pushed his top-seeded team to the brink of elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Rangers trail the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final 3-2 after Wednesday's home loss to the Devils, setting the stage for a must-win Game Six on Friday in New Jersey to have any shot at reaching the Stanley Cup Final. "The most important thing that happened last night after a pretty screwy start is that ... ...

Rangers-Devils Preview (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 16:29:40 PDT)
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Eighteen years ago, Mark Messier set the stage for one of sports' most dramatic moments.

Rangers have no guarantee for this ECF Game 6 (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 16:27:00 PDT)
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Eighteen years ago, Mark Messier set the stage for one of sports' most dramatic moments.

The Rangers aren't making any Mark Messier guarantees ahead of Game 6
(Thu, 24 May 2012 15:41:34 PDT)
New York is focused on prolonging the East final against New Jersey, not rehashing old hockey history.

NHL Playoff Beard Watch: Blood, Sweat and Beards of unsung unshaven heroes (Puck Daddy)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 15:35:48 PDT)
(Ed. Note: We're proud to welcome two of our favorite bloggers, Chuck and Pants from What's Up, Ya Sieve? , to the Puck Daddy fold as they author our weekly NHL Playoff Beard Watch every Thursday.) By Chuck and Pants from What's Up, Ya Sieve? The stage is nearly set for the ultimate NHL showdown. The Devils and Rangers battle it out at center stage while the Kings wait in the offing for their opponent to be named. It's a long, hard fight to be among the last teams standing. Every one inch is earned. This week, we salute the beards of some Unsung Unshaven Heroes. Marquee name or rookie sensation, it doesn't matter what their contracts say now. They fight on - and the proof of is all over their faces.

Devils guarantee they’ll downplay 1994 conference finals for Game 6 vs. Rangers (Puck Daddy)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 14:07:39 PDT)
"We're going to go in and win Game 6. That was the focus this morning and it's the way we feel right now. We've done that all year, we've won all the games we've had to win. … I know we're going to go in and win Game 6 and bring it back here (to the Garden) for Game 7 ... We have enough talent and experience to turn the tide. That's exactly what we're going to do in Game 6." That was Mark Messier on May 24, 1994, making the statement before Game 6 at the Meadowlands between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers. He then scored a hat trick to force Game 7, where the Rangers eliminated the Devils in double overtime. With the Devils again leading the conference final against the rivals heading into Game 6 in Jersey, the inevitable parallels between the two series were bound to come up — even if Rangers captain Ryan Callahan, Brad Richards and coach John Tortorella refused to take the bait on any 1994 questions on Thursday. There would be no more painful way for the Devils to exit the playoffs than to have history repeat: Having the chance to eliminate the Rangers on home ice in Game 6 — on the anniversary of Messier Day, no less — blowing it, and then falling short of the Cup Final with a loss at MSG. Which is probably why none of the Devils that discussed the events of 18 years ago were really interested in focusing on the past.

Dodger Stadium Winter Classic; 10 worst NHL fans; ‘While The Men Watch’ debate (Puck Headlines) (Puck Daddy)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:54 PDT)
Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media. • Viggo Mortensen is a huge Montreal Canadiens fan. What better way to remind the world of this fact than by wrapping Kirsten Dunst in a Habs flag at Cannes, continuing an odd red carpet tradition for Aragorn. [ OMG Yahoo! , via Martin Leroux] • Marty Brodeur on the Mark Messier guarantee ghosts of 1994 haunting the New Jersey Devils in Game 6: "I know if you guys look at it, it looks the same, but it's different teams and a different way of playing the game and it's 18 years ago and that's a long time. I know I'm feeling a lot different. I'm feeling a lot more appreciative of what's going on." [ Fire & Ice ] • Bruce Driver on 1994: "I ended up going to New York and played with Mark, a tremendous leader and one of the best captains of all time. In 1994 against us, Mark did what he did, backed it up and scored three goals. But from our standpoint, the way we looked at it, we blew the game." [ NYT ] • Great piece on the friendship between Devils fans and Rangers fans, unnatural that it is. [ WNYC, via Michael Raphael] • No structural damage in Michal Rozsival's knee after that Dustin Brown hit. [ Sportsnet ] • Mirtle with poll on fighting that finds hardcore fans love it, non-fans loathe it. [Globe & Mail, and see graphic ] • Earl Sleek sees a lot of the 2003 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 2012 Los Angeles Kings. Say, are those the Devils on the other side of the bracket? [ Battle of Cali ] • Los Angeles Dodgers President Stan Kasten wants to pursue a Winter Classic at Dodger Stadium. Read this and other stories in our new book "[Expletive] No One Would Be Saying If The Kings Weren't In The Cup Final." [ LA Times ] • Rich Hammond on the matter: "Gary Bettman has sneered (literally) at any suggestion that a Winter Classic could be played in a warm-weather environment. And while the Kings would love to host an outdoor game — Luc Robitaille is a particularly big proponent — AEG is also in the planning stages of a new downtown football stadium, which would probably be a more likely location in the event that Bettman stops sneering." [ LA Kings Insider ] • The 10 most annoying hockey fans. Including you, Guy Trying To Get on TV. [ THW ]

Lundqvist Picks Wrong Game for Stinker: A Fan’s Perspective (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 07:35:00 PDT)
The New York Rangers are right where they seem most comfortable - on the brink of playoff extinction after a Game Five rally petered out.

Devils outlast Rangers, 5-3, take 3-2 series lead (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 24 May 2012 04:15:02 PDT)
NEW YORK (AP) The New Jersey Devils never could have imagined they would have a three-goal lead on the New York Rangers less than 10 minutes into Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals at hostile Madison Square Garden.

Rangers run out of playoff luck as Game 5 rally goes awry at the worst time
(Wed, 23 May 2012 23:06:27 PDT)
New York's resiliency and goalie Henrik Lundqvist's play have been exemplary throughout the 2012 postseason, but the breaks and bounces went against the Rangers when they could least afford it.

Lundqvist struggles as Rangers lose Game 5, 5-3 (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 22:51:05 PDT)
NEW YORK (AP) The New York Rangers played their best game of the postseason against the New Jersey Devils. Unfortunately, it was a night Henrik Lundqvist played his worst

Devils on brink of playing for Cup (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 22:40:09 PDT)
The Los Angeles Kings await. But the New Jersey Devils still have some work to do.

Rangers try to shake off demoralizing loss (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 22:20:12 PDT)
Sometimes it is just easier to take getting blown out by five goals than to lose the way the New York Rangers did Wednesday night.

Devils beat Rangers, on brink of Stanley Cup Finals
(Wed, 23 May 2012 21:44:55 PDT)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New Jersey Devils let a three-goal lead slip away against the New York Rangers on Wednesday but scored twice late in the third period to claim a 5-3 win and move within touching distance of a place in the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.

Devils blew three-goal lead but survive to take 3-2 series lead (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 21:30:16 PDT)
NEW YORK -- Seventeen seconds into the third period Wednesday night, the Madison Square Garden crowd was taunting New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur with its ubiquitous singsong chant after a rare miscue allowed the New York Rangers to tie a game they once trailed 3-0.

Wednesday’s Three Stars: Devils fourth line steps up; Watch Prust dive (Puck Daddy)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 21:17:11 PDT)
The New Jersey Devils, praying harder than John Tortorella. No. 1 Star: Stephen Gionta, New Jersey Devils Gionta led the way for the Devils in Game 5, opening the scoring just 2:43 into the game and then setting up Ryan Carter for the game-winning goal at 15:36 of the third period. And that, my friends, is how you make up for going 0-for-5 in the faceoff circle. No. 2 Star: Ryan Callahan, New York Rangers The Rangers' captain was a difference-maker Wednesday, playing 20 minutes, leading the way physically with a game-high 6 hits, hitting a post, and scoring early in the second period to cut the Devils' lead in half. But was his goal kicked in? No. 3 Star: Ryan Carter, New Jersey Devils Carter scored the winner and was a part of the Devils' fourth line that was the difference in Game 5. He, Gionta, and Steve Bernier all earned praise from Coach Peter DeBoer after the game.

Stephen Gionta leads Devils in Game 5 triumph over the New York Rangers (Puck Daddy)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 20:46:41 PDT)
Full disclosure: This entire post is just an excuse to show you this unbelievable photo by Bruce Bennett. The New York Rangers controlled Game 5 for 40 minutes, limiting the New Jersey Devils to just 10 shots during that stretch and outscoring them, 3-0. Unfortunately, these 40 minutes were bookended on either side by 10 minutes that they did not control. During those 20 minutes, the Devils scored 5 times on 7 shots, and that was all the offence they'd need in a 5-3 win. It was a strange Game 5 -- "An adventure," according to Devils coach Peter DeBoer -- with all sorts of unexpected offense and strange bounces. The Devils came out flying, beating Henrik Lundqvist twice in the first five minutes. Stephen Gionta opened the scoring after finding himself alone with a rebound in front of Henrik Lundqvist. Then, just two minutes later, Patrik Elias doubled the lead when an Adam Henrique point shot pinballed around like it was teaching children how to count to 12 before deflecting off the back of his leg and in. Five minutes later, Travis Zajac stunned the Madison Square crowd when he extended the lead with a perfectly-placed wrister off the rush. This put the Rangers in a tough spot. They had only reached four goals in a game once this poststeason -- in the playoff opener versus the Ottawa Senators in April 12. But they were undeterred by the daunting task, and they put their game into overdrive. Also they got some luck.

New Jersey puts Rangers on the brink in NHL series
(Wed, 23 May 2012 20:35:55 PDT)
Ryan Carter's third goal of the playoffs held up as the game winner as the New Jersey Devils held on to beat the New York Rangers 5-3 in game five of their Eastern Conference championship series.

Devils 5, Rangers 3 (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 19:50:09 PDT)
NEW YORK -- Seventeen seconds into the third period Wednesday night, the Madison Square Garden crowd was taunting New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur with its ubiquitous singsong chant, after a rare miscue allowed the New York Rangers to tie a game they once trailed 3-0.

Dubinsky, Prust back in Rangers lineup for Game 5 (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 17:02:00 PDT)
NEW YORK (AP) Brandon Dubinsky is back in the New York Rangers' lineup after missing 11 playoff games because of an injury to his right foot.

Rangers, Devils back at MSG for pivotal Game 5; NHL 13 screenshots (Playoff Puck Previews) (Puck Daddy)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 15:42:14 PDT)
• Feast your eyes on some screengrabs from NHL 13. [ Operation Sports ] Preview: New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers, 8 p.m. ET Except to see a different Rangers team Wednesday, and not just because they'll be plugging two Brandons into the lineup, with Brandon Dubinsky making his series debut and Brandon Prust returning from his one-game suspension. The Rangers have played fabulously at Madison Square Garden this postseason, and it's hardly possible for them to be as poor as they were in the 4-1 Game 4 loss that evened this series at two games apiece. The Rangers desperately need to get their forwards going, as Chris Krieder is the only one with two goals. Might we see a more open game than we've grown accustomed to? Evening Reading • Cool post on Sidney Crosby's comic book death. [ The Hockey Writers ] • An open letter to Shane Doan from a Kings fan. Incredibly, it's nice. [ Nebulous Verbosity ] • Kirk McLean's entire career is up for auction, if that's what you're into. [ PITB ] • If the Devils and Rangers go to a Game 7, it will be shown on NBC Sports, not NBC. Why? The Senior PGA tour's got dibs. [ Newsday ] • The Oilers don't need a stud defenceman just yet. [ Oilers Nation ] Puck Buddy Comment of the Day: Luke, on the screenshot of the woman behind the Coyotes' bench Wednesday night : If you stare hard enough thru the picture like one of those Magic Eye books you CAN see Dave Tippett..... Uncanny. Bold Prediction: Brandon Dubinsky scores in his first game back.

LA Kings conquer West, await Cup final opponent (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 23 May 2012 15:21:08 PDT)
LOS ANGELES (AP) The crowd was dozens deep and hundreds wide, screaming and chanting and surrounding the Los Angeles Kings' cars as they drove home after writing another improbable chapter in the big, mostly empty book that holds their franchise history.