Crush arch-rival in the NHL playoffs
New York. The New Jersey Devils have arch rivals from Manhattan on their knees.
They dumped the Rangers last night and can now decide the entire Round of 16 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
It will definitely be the biggest game I’ve played, but I don’t think we have any pressure on us. Jesper Pratt says it was very motivating when we met him after the 4-0 home win at the roaring The Rock.
It is remarkable how the expected “Battle of the Hudson” has evolved since last week.
The Rangers, who won their first two games to a 10-2 draw and looked destined for a home-and-away victory, grew paler and paler – while the Devils grew older with each encounter.
Last night they not only won for the third time. They beat their opponent 4-0 and for most of the fight looked completely outclassed.
– Yes, I think that was our best game of the series, says Swedish Devils striker Jesper Pratt when we meet him in the team’s fancy dressing room afterwards.
It was great to show that we can play as hard and mature at home as we did in Manhattan. Again, we made sure not to give them too much at all.
And the little thing that the guests created, Swiss goalkeeper Akira Schmid took care of him calmly and reliably – and in the end he was scored the first clean sheet in his short career in the Stanley Cup.
Now a new game awaits at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, Swedish time – and then the Devils can sink the Rangers once and for all.
It will definitely be the biggest game I’ve played, but I don’t think we have any special pressure on us. Bratten continues to feel very motivated.
– We’ll just try to play exactly the same thing again and finish the series and hopefully go into the next round feeling really good.
Perhaps the time has come to crown the 24-year-old power pack from Transund on Saturday night with a goal or two. He had plenty of chances during the night’s display but couldn’t get past Igor Sistyorkin – Rangers’ MVP, despite the 4-0 defeat.
– It’s been such a struggle for me with this series, but it’s just about keeping those shots out and continuing to be on the rooftops where it happens. As he says, sooner or later the disc is going to jump in there.
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