While those three or four minutes in the third period were some of the most exciting moments I have experienced in MSG in quite some time, let's not too crazy just yet. Not to diminish how much fun it was, or how motivating it just may be, it was not really a great game from the Blueshirts. Also, the Devils were without their third leading scorer, Scott Gomez.

Just keep in mind, after the Rangers played what was universally agreed to be their best game of the year against a hot Atlanta team on Friday, they were disappointing against the Caps the next night. This evening, they have to come out against the defending Cup champs on the road. I, for one, am going to wait to see what happens in Carolina before I start to think about how this was a "turning point, watershed" game.

And good for Marcel Hossa. After I spent the day arguing that he accomplishes virtually nothing on the ice, he makes me eat my words and has the best two shifts in the last year for him. We've seen spurts like this before, but if this kid starts to come around and find his offense, it would be great for the organization. (I wouldn't hold your breath, though).

By the way, don't count on doing anything significant in the playoffs if Henrik Lundqvist keeps letting in goals like the first one last night. While he did make some good saves later on, he cannot let those softies in.

Anyway, nice win, on to the news, which is plentiful:

Sam Weinman at the Journal News: At 5-2-1 over their previous eight games, the Rangers had still been a mystery at the Garden, where they sported just a 2-4-1 record heading into last night. Their struggles at home continued at least to start last night. Sluggish in the early going, the Rangers fell behind when a Jamie Langenbrunner slap shot beat Henrik Lundqvist between the legs at 9:05 of the first; and they would fall behind 2-0 in the second after a Brian Gionta tip-in on a Devils 5-on-3 advantage. Seemingly in command, the Devils saw it all slip away in the third.

John Dellapina at the Daily News: With a paint-peeling speech between the second and third periods that would have done Messier proud, Renney roused a shut-down Rangers team.

Sherry Ross also has something in the News: Mark Messier played on five Stanley Cup teams in Edmonton from 1984 through 1990. It's a feat that Messier says will be almost impossible for a modern-day NHL player to emulate.

The New York Post once again gets the "cheesiest headline award": THREE-MENDOUS!

Uncle Larry, also from the Post: The NHL can bestow all the politically correct leadership awards in its Sixth Avenue cupboard it wants on meritorious Brendan Shanahan, but in order for the Rangers to establish themselves as a force this season, they have to be Jagr's team, just the way they were Jagr's team last year, just the way they were Jagr's team last night in registering a 3-2 victory over the Devils at the Garden that Tom Renney insisted "could be a watershed game for us."

Great article by Larry, and great quotes from Jagr at the bottom.

The Star Ledger: "Our coach came in and laid into us after the second period," said Rangers forward Brendan Shanahan, who scored the winning goal. "We talked before the game about being patient. The Devils are a team you have to be patient against, but at a certain point patience turned into sitting back."

Steve Zipay at Newsday: "All you have to do is give our fans an excuse to get going behind us and they are such a huge boost," said Shanahan, whose goal proved to be the game-winner in the 3-2 contest. "We got that one goal and all of a sudden, the arena was rocking."

The Hockey Rodent: Until Tuesday evening, it was "pointless" to play Marcel Hossa... numerically speaking. That zero was erased (not once, but) twice within twenty-six seconds when the New York Rangers blitzed Martin Brodeur to turn the game around.

NY SportsDay: “We certainly got a wakeup call after the second period,” Brendan Shanahan said. “[Renney] said he didn't care if we didn't win or lose, but that we gave the effort.” But it was more than just a win. Renney hopes that his motivation would show the team that losing at Madison Square Garden is unacceptable and not giving the effort would ever be tolerated.

And for those of you worried about Nigel Dawes, from the Hartford Courant: "It's a little disappointing [to get sent down], but at the same time it's exciting that I'm going to get to play a lot more than I've been playing," said Dawes, who had 159 goals in four season with Kootenay of the WHL before turning pro. "I just want to play my game and hopefully get back [to New York] as soon as I can."

So tonight the Blueshirts have to ride the momentum gained in Madison Square Garden last night. The 'Canes have been mediocre at home, while the Rangers have played well on the road.

It's the Rangers and Hurricanes in Carolina. The puck drops at 7:00 pm EST.

HDH

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