Round One Preview: Rivarly Renewed New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils

The Rangers may feel good about their one loss in a shootout against the Devils this season in eight meetings. 

But again, they are playing the Devils and yes, Martin Brodeur is still in net. 

Goalies tend to be the difference in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the New Jersey Net-minder is still the best.    

Brodeur went 1-4-3 against the Rangers this season but overlooked his 1.97 goals against in the eight games and finally got the monkey off his back against the Rangers in the season finale. 

Goaltending is one of the most mentally challenging positions in sports, and you bet that was on Brodeur.

In the other net, Henrik Lundqvist is on the verge of becoming a young goaltending superstar in the city that never sleeps. 

It was only two years past that Lundqvist was lit up against the Devils in an opening round sweep. 

Will he be able to continue his 7-0-1 with at 1.07 GAA against the Devils? 

He may have to when these two teams met in the last playoffs last, and the Rangers only scored four goals on their way to getting swept in four games.   

The NHL playoffs are games where flaws are magnified, and margin for error is the smallest. 

We all remember Stephan Matteau’s wraparound against a young Martin Brodeur on the way to the Rangers last Stanley Cup in 1994. 

It took Brodeur 12 years to beat his tri-state rival in the playoffs, but was not able to do it against longtime Ranger Goalie Mike Richter. 

I believe Lundqvist may face a similar fate, as again he will be outmatched by the three-time Stanley Cup Champ, Brodeur. 

Both goalies had fantastic games in head to head matchups, and their resulting goals against average differed by less than a goal.

Another interesting match-up is the Ranger forwards against a young New Jersey back-line.  The Devils’ defensemen may be young but they have adapted to a highly successful system. 

Look for journeyman Mike Mottau to play a big part in this series.  He has finally found his home in Newark and has played consistent and stellar defense all season. 

Second year player Johnny Oduya has the speed and elusiveness to carry the puck up the ice and must do more of that for the Devils defensemen to impact on the rush.

The Devils crash line of Danius Zubrus, David Clarkson, and Mike Rupp has size and speed and is quite capable of putting the goal in the net. 

They will be matched up against Jaromir Jagr who tallied three points in eight games, had an even +/-, and was held to just a lone assist the last time these two met in the playoffs. 

 As always New Jersey seems to live and die with Zack Parise, who has shown a tendency to be a feast or famine type player. 

If he can get hot in this series, the Rangers will have a very difficult time keeping his off the scoreboard. 

Of course, still some players remain from the last Devils Stanley Cup. 

John Madden and Jay Pandolfo play smart two-way hockey against the league’s best offensive lines.  Captain Jamie Langenbrunner has a nose for the net in clutch situations, and Sergei Brylin holds down the bottom lines with his consistency. 

 I believe the Devils will take this series, but not as easily as the previous match-up. 

It will be a physical series where the winner will have to hope they come out healthy enough to compete in the rest of the playoffs.  

Emotion will be on high Wednesday night in Newark when this series starts Devils in six.