Whitewashed in Game One

The New Jersey Devils played the favored New York Rangers straight up and scoreless for two periods before a defensive lapse,a missed penalty call and the final empty netter in the third period added up for a 3-0 Ranger win and a series lead of one game.
No Devils scored,obviously and the second game of the series takes place on Wednesday night.
I will miss the end of that one due to work and the eight o'clock start time.

Hell Raisers

1) Martin Brodeur played very well.
Henrik Lundqvust was better.
I think the first Ranger goal was a mental lapse as the defenders were playing the puck and did not see Dan Girardi slip onto the ice and get into position to fire the puck past a screened Brodeur.

2) This is not an excuse,just a fact-in playoff hockey,the ice gets bad.
Nothing that can be done about it,so griping is pointless,but you just have to hope the breaks even out.
The first goal was set up by a bouncing puck over Bryce Salvador's stick and things quickly led to the Girardi goal.
Breaks of the game...

3) The second goal is the one that really has me steamed though.
The Rangers are on the power play and the Devils dump the puck into the Rangers zone.
Michael Del Zotto and I think Travis Zajac (Not positive on the Devil) fall to the ice and scrap for the puck.
Del Zotto clearly scoops the puck and throws it up ice.
No penalty and on that possession,the Rangers score.
Missed call and it essentially ended the game....

4) Give both Lundqvist and the Rangers defense credit-twice the Devils had breakaway chances and the defender was able to break back enough to make Kovalchuk/Parise rush their shot and allow Lundqvist time to to swat the puck away.

5) The Ranger shot blocking/fall to the ice and pray was very effective tonight.
So much in fact that New Jersey is going to have to figure a way to deal with the tactic.
Whether that is quick passes to deal with the fallen player or more a plan to go around them,the Devils have to find a way to get more rubber on net.
If not,this is trouble in the making.

6) This one is not a huge loss,Game two looms bigger and a loss there makes Game three gigantic.
The Devils did not play awful,they were far from great either.
Let's see what they have on Wednesday night...

Photo Credit:Kathy Willens-AP Photo