Monday, October 5, 2009

Game Night: The Devils and the Details

Game three in the Rangers season unfolds "somewhere in the swamps of Jersey" tonight as our heroes take on the New Jersey Devils – that team we dislike above all others - at Newarks' crown jewel: the Prudential Center - at 7pm.

Martin Broduer – perhaps the most over-rated goalie in the history of the NHL is coming off his historic 1000th career game – a 5 goal (on just 25 shots) catastrophe at the hands of former Ranger Blair Betts and his Philadelphia Flyers.

Broduer brings a record versus the Rangers of 1-6-3 in his last ten into tonight’s contest.

On the Rangers side – the lines figure to be what they were in our home opener:

Prospal–Dubinsky–Gaborik (because - if you don’t have a first line center – give Gaby two 2nd line centers)
Higgins-Drury-Callahan (the hardest working line in the NHL)
Lisin-Anisimov-Kotalik (“Anis” will improve)
Brashear-Boyle-Voros (no comment)

And defending pairs:

Staal-Girardi
Del Zotto-Rozsival
Redden-Gilroy

In other line up news:
-Sean Avery is still out with a “friendly fire” knee injury from a training camp collision with Ryan Callahan
-And Henrik Lundqvist, despite much having been said and written about giving him extra rest this year – will make his third straight start of the season.

With this just being game three in a long season - why does it feel so important? Our need to get off on the right track? A proof-of-concept for Tortorella's system? Because we hate the Devils? Probably all of the above.

It feels like the Devils are still reeling from last year's abrupt ouster from the first round playoffs - maybe we can jump on them when they're down.

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