NHL Playoff Schedule 2012: What NY Rangers Must Do to Take Series Lead in Game 5

The New York Rangers suffered a rough loss at the hands of the New Jersey Devils in Game 5 of their best-of-seven series.

They were emasculated for most of the game, as the Devils put up a three-spot on net minder Henrik Lundqvist (and an empty-netter) while Martin Brodeur only let up one inconsequential goal to Ruslan Fedotenko.

New Jersey got the Rangers frustrated in Game 5, and if they don't keep their cool and resort to playing the style of hockey they have all season, John Tortorella and company could be looking at a 3-2 deficit heading back to the Prudential Center.

Here is what the Rangers must do to take a commanding lead in the series.

Come Out Strong

Even though it's a cliche, it's true. The Devils once again dominated the opening period, which has become a trend in this Eastern Conference Finals series. New Jersey came out and knocked the Rangers flat right out of the gate with a seeing-eye goal that squeaked through Lundqvist and about seven other players.

The Devils also added another goal halfway through the first on a two-on-one opportunity that Lundqvist had absolutely no chance at stopping from point-blank range. In the two games the Rangers have won in this series, they haven't let up a goal in the first stanza, or any goals at all for that matter.

It's all about setting the tone early and, if they can do that, they should be able to shake off the disappointing Game 4 loss and play their game.

Michael Del Zotto Needs to Step Up

Del Zotto has been one of the team's best defenders throughout the Rangers' quest for Lord Stanley's Cup, but he laid an egg in last night's game.

No. 4 could keep his head in the game on Monday and it showed early and often. He botched a couple of clean passes at the top of the forecheck once the Rangers finally got it going. One of those turnovers almost resulted in a disastrous goal, and would have if not for a great play made by Dan Girardi in which he skated from the other side of the ice to smack the puck away from an oncoming Devil.

Del Zotto got absolutely roasted by Parise, leading to the two-on-one advantage that put the Devils up 2-0. When I say roasted, I mean roasted. Parise skated right past Del Zotto as his feet got stuck in the mud and he hardly moved as the New Jersey captain breezed right by him.

Get Back to Blocking Shots

It's no secret that the Rangers need to block a lot of shots to win. That hasn't been more evident than in this series against the Devils.

In the Game 1 win, the Rangers blocked 26 shots, five more than the Devils took in total. In the Game 2 loss, they blocked 16 shots as a team, but half of those were courtesy of Ryan McDonagh and he can't do it all by himself.

In Game 3, the Rangers blocked 19 shots, only three less than they took on Brodeur. In Game 4, they blocked just 12.

It may not be the prettiest style of hockey, but it gets the job done. If the Rangers want to put a stranglehold on the series, they need to get back down to the nitty-gritty and give up their bodies.

Game 5 is Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.

Here's a schedule to the rest of the Conference Finals action.

And here's the newly released 2012 Stanley Cup Finals schedule.