Marian Gaborik

I thought the Rangers were a strong candidate to win the Cup this year because they reminded me so much of last year's Bruins. They had a brilliant goalie, a sound defensive system, and could get goals from multiple guys on various lines.But a defens...

For the third straight series, the Eastern Conference's top-seeded team is all even through four games, and each time New York has headed into Game 5 off the disappointment of a loss that would have given the Rangers a commanding 3-1 edge.

Ryan Carter snapped a tie with 4:24 left, and the New Jersey Devils posted a 5-3 victory over the New York Rangers after blowing a three-goal lead in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night.

There can be no more loose play, missed opportunities or slow starts. The New Jersey Devils are simply too good to let the Rangers get away with that kind of play any longer.

Thoughts: 1) If John Tortorella and Ryan Callahan and company can’t figure out the slow starts and what the coach called “the yips” with the puck, I sure as hell can’t. 2) Too bad for Callahan to have a loss like that on a day...

The Senators and Capitals knew the Rangers were the better team when they played. The Devils don’t have to make any such admissionr. They know they are as good or better than the Rangers because of the way this series has played out.

When the puck drops in Game 5, the Rangers need to be the dominant team. They haven't done it all series. It's time for the entire squad to step up.

Going to practice this morning. Will have audio and whatever news from there later. *********************************************** Here’s my unedited column from The Journal News and LoHud.com today. Apologies for typos, etc.: By Rick Carpinie...

The Eastern Conference Finals between the Devils and rival Rangers are turning out to be exactly what everyone thought. Hard hitting. Tight checking. Low scoring.

Marion Gaborik may turn out to be the key figure in the next game. He has been called out by his coach before and while he may not like it, he usually responds. He has been resilient and that’s certainly the signature of this team.

There was much discussion in and around the New York area, and probably throughout hockey circles everywhere, concerning New York Ranger coach John Tortorella's bold decision to bench Marian Gaborik in the third period of Game Two against the New Jer...