The Rangers and Devils are laying it all out on the line in this series, trying to be the team that will reach the plateau and face the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Kings clinched an advance to the Finals yesterday night after Dustin Penner tucked in the inning goal in the final minutes of overtime.
Now, they have to wait as the East finishes up its series. The Devils pulled the series even two nights ago after they hopped on an early lead and rode it all the way to a 4-1 victory. The Rangers were lifeless in every aspect of the game. There was minimal fore-check, hardly any offense sustained, and the defense couldn't help Hank out if they tried. It was a brutal game, which had a lot of emotion in it.
Now, tonight the Rangers have a chance to pull ahead once again, or sink in the series to the Devils who outplayed them severely last game.
Tonight there will be some changes in the lineup as Brandon Dubinsky will be making his return to the lineup and replacing John Mitchell. Dubinsky went down with an injury in the Ottawa Senators series, and hopefully will be able to add that edge the Rangers desperately need. Along with that, Brandon Prust will be returning from his one game suspension tonight. Prust will be able to help the team out in the physical department if the fisticuffs start to fly again.
However, tonight's game may be a bit more conservative than Game 4 was. Now, both of these teams have something to lose: the lead. I anticipate some disciplined hockey played by both the Rangers and Devils tonight as neither team is looking to give the other an advantage. It's going to be a low-scoring affair tonight.
Enjoy the game!
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