Game 3 of last year's debacle against the Devils was held in Madison Square Garden. It was the first postseason game for the Rangers in that building in a long, long time. The team, of course, was on a downward spiral and was in a 2-0 hole in the series.
Yet despite all of that, the place was rocking.
I can't imagine what it will be like this time around. This is a much better team (at least at this time of year), and they are coming off of two hard fought road victories.
Hopefully the Rangers will be able to withstand the Thrashers sure-to-be-physical attack. By all accounts it looks as though Tom Renney will go with the same lineup as Game 2, which means Ryan Hollweg stays in the press box. I'm kind of on the fence about this one. Colton Orr is a nice insurance policy to have on the bench, but he hasn't made even the smallest contribution so far. Hollweg is fast and will surely pressure the Atlanta blueliners. On the other hand, why mess with success.
Get your rally bricks ready. What? You don't have a rally brick? Check out the Rodent.
NY Post: "We're alert to the fact that the Thrashers are going to come out hard and do whatever they can to get back in the series at our expense and in our building," Renney said. "We believe Atlanta is coming in here with nothing to lose. Starting on the road gave us a chance to get our feet under us without worrying about anything other than playing. We have to be proactive. We're on a business trip here that's two months long."
NY DailyNews: Tonight, for the first time in a decade, a Garden full of fans will attend a playoff game with anticipation rather than dread. That's because, having won the series-opening two games in Atlanta, the Rangers can push the Thrashers to the edge of playoff extinction.
The Journal News: "It's going to be a great atmosphere, but again our focus is on the job we have to do on the ice," Brendan Shanahan said. "The atmosphere is something where maybe you'll reflect on after the game and you'll try to draw from during the game. But we still have to keep our heads and play the same way we've been playing."
The Star Ledger: "You do have to be aware that a 2-0 lead doesn't mean you're going to win the series automatically," Cullen said, admitting that he thinks about last year at times. "Knowing how I felt last year, I think Atlanta feels that they have nothing to lose."
NY Newsday: Gamesmanship comes in many forms. It can be overt. Or covert. Or delivered via clippings on bulletin boards . . . Hartley is switching goaltenders yet again -- benching Game 2 netminder Johan Hedberg and going back to Game 1 starter Kari Lehtonen, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Lehtonen, who won 34 games this season, allowed four goals in the Rangers' 4-3 win last Thursday.
NY SportsDay: Tonight, as the Rangers look for their first home playoff win in 10 years, Renney will be sticking with the same lineup, although Blair Betts missed practice yesterday with “bumps and bruises.” Facing Game 1 starter Kari Lehtonen, the Rangers will try and keep the game simple at home as they did on the road, while trying to take advantage of a desperate Atlanta team.
Get your rally bricks and game-day jerseys out. It's playoff hockey at MSG. The puck drops at 7:00 pm EST. LET'S GO RANGERS!
HDH
Posted by Jim at April 17, 2007 12:12 PMeMail this entry!
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