Devils vs. Rangers Game 2: New York Must Bounce Back with Fearless Defense

If the New York Rangers want to bounce back from their Game 2 defeat in the NHL Eastern Conference Finals, they're going to have to do so with their fearless defense.

They always say that defense wins championships—whoever they really are—and now the Rangers have a chance to prove the old mantra right.

At this point of the playoffs, it's often not just the best team that wins, but the team with the most heart, and this is what the Rangers thrive on. Not only are they a talented bunch, but they're willing to go above and beyond to win the Stanley Cup, and that includes standing in front of New Jersey's shots.

It's no secret that the Rangers were extremely effective in Game 1 at hindering pucks from getting to goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, but that's something they couldn't keep up according to the Associated Press via ESPN.com:

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New Jersey had 26 attempted shots blocked in Game 1, five more than they got through to goalie Henrik Lundqvist. The Devils cut the blocks to 16 on Wednesday and managed to get 27 on goal -- two more than New York.

"That team blocks so many shots," Clarkson said. "It's unbelievable how many. I think we found a way to shoot it and get sticks on it, and definitely that was big for us."

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The blueprint is there for success, now the Rangers need to get back to it.

Playoff hockey is characterized and defined by many things. It's intense, it's unpredictable and it's often flukey. One bounce of the puck can drastically change the outcome of the series, so a team would be wise to take everything they can into their own hands.

The Rangers know they can seriously hinder the Devils' offense by getting in front of those shots, and that's something they're going to have to get back to in Game 3.

The Devils made the adjustment in Game 2, but now it's New York's turn to adjust right back. It's going to take heart and sacrifice, but it's that fearless defense that really makes the Rangers great.

After all, the prize at the end of the road is certainly worth it, right?

Why would anybody in their right mind constantly put themselves in front of a flying puck?

As the commercials say: "Because it's The Cup."