Quarterfinals, Devils VS Rangers: Game Four.

Pregame:

Devils lead the series 3-0. Rangers have never held a lead. Brodeur’s goals-against-average is under one. Despite a defense without Stevens, Niedermayer, or Daneyko, the Devils have defensively dominated the Rangers. Unless the Rangers somehow remember how to play hockey, the Devils should show some killer instinct and finish them off.

I forgot that they fill time with twenty minutes of commercials and mindless babble before they drop the puck.

First Intermission:

Good first period. I saw a lot of hits, people finishing their checks. There’s a phrase, “What’s bigger, the puck or the man?” The trick is to take out a man when he’s in possession of the puck. You can do it if it’s an individual battle, but you can’t clutch-and-grab. *nodnod*

Rangers got a lucky bounce. We’ll see how the Devils respond. Neither team really dominated. Lundquist made a decent save or two. Rangers lead 1-0.

Second Intermission:

Rangers caught Brodeur out of position a few times, but couldn’t capitalize. Couple of Ranger penalties, two Devil power play goals. I like the Devil’s play. They should pop in another goal or two in the third.

End of game:

The Rangers pressured towards the end of the game. Give management credit for having them not give up. There was a six on four (Lundquist pulled) and the Rangers scored a goal, making it 4-2. I nodded solemnly.

But otherwise, the Devils are still rolling, winners of fifteen straight games. They’ve been on a tear during that streak, and now they get a well-deserved week off to rest.

Final score: Devils 4, Rangers 2
Series: 4-0 sweep, Devils.