Game three can change the entire outcome of this series. If the New Jersey Devils steal one on the road, we've got ourselves a battle, but if the Rangers take a 3-0 lead, the Devils might be defeated.
The New York Rangers are heading back to Madison Square Garden with a 2-0 lead in a playoff series for the first time since 2007 when they completed the sweep against the Atlanta Thrashers.
This team knows that the job isn't close to finished. As most people remember, the Rangers had a 2-0 series lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning in last year's Eastern Conference Finals, but ultimately, it was the Bolts who would prevail after winning four straight games to take the series 4-2.
I spoke to Ryan Lindgren about the feeling of coming home up 2-0 as opposed to going to Tampa last year up 2-0 to which he said "I don't know if there's a huge difference. We love playing here in front of our fans it’s going to be loud tonight, it’s going to be a lot of fun. We know just because we won 2 there it’s not going to be any easier back here. They’re going to come out and play hard, they’re going to play their best game.”
The Devils were one of the best road teams in the NHL this season, skating to a 28-9-4 record as the away team. Per Dan Rosen, they will be looking to Akira Schmid in goal to help climb their way back into the series, but Lindy Ruff won't announce the starter until game time.
The Rangers aren't concerned with who is in goal for the Devils, considering how well their own goaltender has been playing.
Igor Shesterkin is skating to a 1.00 goals against average and a .962 save percentage along with a +2.9 goals saved above expected.
Jacob Trouba said the team has learned a good amount from what they went through last year and it has shown thus far in the opening two games.
If the officiating is anything like it's been in the first two games, it will fall in favor of the Rangers. They have been converting at 40% on the power play thanks to the heroics of Chris Kreider's four goals on the man advantage.
Trouba had this to say about Kreider "He's effective in what he does, it's not by luck, or not by chance. He works at it and practices it every day. He's a big body in front of the net, he's tough to move and when he's not tipping pucks he's good at screening goalies. He's good at being in difficult places to defend as a defenseman."
Patrick Kane also chimed in about Kreider saying "He's not an easy guy to move and he's got a great stick. He touches everything around the net so it's just a dangerous play when you can get it in there to him."
If the Rangers can continue their success on the power play while getting consistency from Shesterkin, I don't know if anyone will be able to stop them.
The Devils will look for some answers tonight, but they will have to take the electric MSG crowd out of the game early.
Game three will be pivotal if the Devils find a way to win, we've got ourselves a series, but if it's the Rangers who come away with a win, there might be some brooms at the Garden on Monday night.
It's a Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, is there anywhere in the world you'd rather be?