Rangers and Devils Suffer Historical Collapses In Same Night

Talk about irony.

Not only did both the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils hold seemingly commanding leads in their opening round playoff series, they both ended up blowing it big time in New York Met-like fashion.

Hope the boys of the ice enjoy their summer while they fume about what has happened to another season of broken promises.

In the Rangers game seven against the Washington Capitals, the Broadway Blue Shirts gave it their all but just couldn't figure out the Capitals defense. It didn't help matters either that the soul of the team, Sean Avery, was limping around either. The Rangers put up only 15 shot on goalie Simeon Varlamov, not exactly enough to make the Capitals defense nor the goalie sweat.

With the score tied at one in the third period, Sergei Federov's goal with less than five minutes to play, iced it for the Capitals. The Rangers never answered as they limped away into the off-season, having blown a 3-1 series lead. The Rangers were so close but so far from accomplishing any goals this season.

As for the Devils, the way they lost was indicative of the entire series. Back and forth and to and fro. With the score tied at two, half way through the second period, Brian Rolston scored on a power play to give New Jersey a 3-2 advantage heading into the final period. With that lead and Martin Broduer in front of the net, one would think a 3-2 lead was safe.

Not the case.

In the final two minutes of the game, the Hurricanes swooped in and stole the game away from Jersey. Jussi Jokinen scored his third goal of the series to tie the game at three. Then, with just 32 seconds to go in regulation, Eric Staal scored his fifth goal of the series, whipping it right past Brodeur to put everyone in the Prudential Center into a spasm of shock and awe.

Does this finish mean that Brodeur, who came off of an injury in late February to finish off the regular season, is getting too old? Probably not, but one reason the Devils had success this year was because of the younger Scott Clemenson. The debate will begin to snowball, as the Devils were iced.