NEW YORK RANGERS!?!?!?

It'll be an intense series. Over the last 20 years, Rangers/Devils is what the Rangers/Islanders rivalry once was. The fans dislike each other and the teams dislike each other. I use the term dislike because I as a Rangers fan dislike the Devils and hate losing to them but respect the hell out of the organization and what they have been able to accomplish. The one advantage I give the Devils is that they have had a few days off to rest unlike the Rangers who really only get about a day if that (what with practice, etc.). That's why I could see the Devils winning Game 1. However:

1. Unlike going up to Ottawa or down to Washington, Ranger fans, especially those from Jersey, will go to Newark. They won't be home games, but the Ranger fans will make their prescence felt. There won't be as many Devil fans at the Garden as Ranger fans at the Rock.

2. The Rangers play much the same way the Panthers do. They shut down passing lanes and don't allow spacing. Lundqvist is a world class goalie, the Rangers blueline is amoung the best in the league and the Rangers 12 forwards are all defensively responsible with the ability to put the puck in the net when needed and that includes our checkers like Rupp, Boyle and Prust.

3. The Rangers don't play as uptempo and attack like the Flyers do. They primarily dump and chase allowing their speedy and fast forwards to dig out the puck in efforts to create chances and spacing in the middle. Their forwards are also much better on the fore check than the Flyers.

4. The Rangers have allowed 3 or less goals for the first 14 games of this playoff which is a playoff record. Lundqvist and the defense has been lights out and they don't take penalties nor do they give up many soft goals or powerplay goals. The Devils had a few soft goals get past Bryzgalov and took advantage of the Flyers sloppy play allowing them to capitalize on turnovers and through the man advantage.

5. The Devils have only beaten the Rangers once in five playoff meetings. The 2006 meeting, the Devils went into the playoffs on a two month roll while the Rangers were bruised and broken. Not making excuses, but. The "Brodeur Factor" has meant nothing to the Rangers historically.

Rangers defense I believe is much more defined than the Devils. I like our forwards overall (I'd take Parise and Kovalchuk on my team anyday) than the Devils, I think the Rangers play the Devils game better than they do at this point and Brodeur is not the goaltender he once was and only an idiot would say Brodeur is better than Lundqvist at this point. Lundqvist is most likely this year's Vezina winner.

I don't but into the whole no team that was gone 14 in the first two rounds can win the Cup. They said no team could go the five day gauntlet and win the Big East tourney and UConn did last year, they said no team could come back down 3-0 and win and the Red Sox did. I know the Rangers are one of the most hated teams historically around the league but they should get some respect.

Rangers in five. This is the type of team the Rangers want to play. The Caps and Sens are the types of teams that have given the Rangers fits all year. Teams like the Devils haven't.

Rangers in 6

Rangers in 6.

Rangers will win but i know the devils will put up a fight

Devils in 6 or 7 games.

The Devils are 8-4 v.s. 3rd seed teams and 5th seed teams. The Rangers are 8-6 v.s. 8th seed teams and 7th seed teams ( both 7th seed and 8th seed had 92 points) The Devils have just played better so far in the playoffs so i say them!

i wish the Rangers kick some butt! If I had to %. my "sought after" from the jap convention, it will be them. i wish Callahan get's a purpose, i became watching 24/7 the different day and he looked quite cool.

Devils in 6.

Much like the Rangers-Capitals series, it could go either way. I wouldn't be surprised to see it decided in Game 7 again...

Brodeur and the boys will. So pumped to see Marty back at the finals one more time where he belongs.