New York Rangers Get Revenge On Devils, Ending Their Season With A 4-1 Victory For The Blue Shirts
On Sunday afternoon, the New York Rangers defeated their long time rivals the New Jersey Devils, denying last years Eastern Conference Champs a shot at the playoffs.
The 8th place Rangers are making their way closer their way closer and closer to the playoffs. Sunday's victory was more than just another victory for Rangers fans - it was revenge. Last year the Devils shattered the Rangers hopes of a Stanley Cup run when the defeated the Broadway blue shirts and went on to face the L.A Kings.
The Devils would lose the Cup to the Kings, but the sting of their victory over the Rangers stayed with fans throughout the season.
The New York Rangers began Sunday's game strong and starting goalie Henrik Lundqvist almost had a shut out, not allowing a single goal from the Devils until the third period with 6:30 remaining.
Rangers Capitan Ryan Callahan got the game started with the first goal of the night 34-seconds into the start of the game. Derek Stephan also scored in the first period and Taylor Pyatt scored in the second period. Callahan would go on to score again in the third period making the score 4-0, until the Devils got their first and only goal of the night.
New York Rangers fans were doing their best to help their team, filling Madison Square Garden with chants against the Devils. The fans attempted to psych out Devils goalie Martin Brodeur with chants of "M-A-R-T-Y, M-A-R-T-Y."
The fans were at it again in the third period, letting the Devils know they were out by chanting, "Season's Over!"
Devils' Coach Peter DeBoer, who got a game misconduct and stormed off the bench, spoke with the Daily News saying; "No other word but disappointment" could describe how he felt.
"Losing last year in the playoffs, and we came so close, knowing that they probably don't like us that much either, it's nice to beat [the Devils]" said Rangers center Brad Richards.
Richards scored his first NHL hat trick in a game against the Buffalo Sabres Friday night. The Rangers also set a record Friday night scoring 5 goals in a 3-minute span.
"We're playing the best hockey we've played all year, and now is the time to do that," Callahan said to the Daily News about Sunday's game.
