Copyright 2008 The New York Sun Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:32:35 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Hockey :: Stories from The New York Sun http://www.nysun.com/hockey istoll@nysun.com (Ira Stoll) webmaster@nysun.com en-us KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/remodeled-rangers-looking-to-improve-chemistry/85527/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Last year at this time, the Rangers were considered to be one of the NHL's finest teams, with numerous publications (including this one) projecting them to capture Lord Stanley's chalice. With goaltender Henrik Lundqvist coming off two consecutive seasons as a Vezina Trophy finalist — and with all-world Czech star Jaromir Jagr pacing the offense — the sky seemed the limit for the Blueshirts, whose seeming embarrassment of riches was expanded to include free agent signees Scott Gomez and Chris... EVAN WEINER http://www.nysun.com/sports/feud-brews-between-nhl-russian-khl/83986/ Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST It is fairly safe to assume that Russian oilman Alexander Medvedev, the founder of the new Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), is not on the NHL's most-favored people list. The KHL is actually the old Russian Super Hockey League that has been rebranded and features 24 teams from not only Russia but other countries that once were part of the Soviet Union. Medvedev's league, which is being backed many wealthy Russians, has signed one prominent NHL star, Jaromir Jagr, who is playing for Avangard Omsk... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/nolan-out-as-islanders-coach/81897/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Ted Nolan's return to NHL coaching ended after only two years Monday when he split with the Islanders over "philosophical differences" with general manager Garth Snow. Although there had been a growing rift throughout last season between Nolan and Snow, the somewhat surprising midsummer move was made after a morning meeting at Nassau Coliseum before the opening of a rookie training camp. "The process for me was something that took a lot of time to come to terms with," Snow... IRA PODELL http://www.nysun.com/sports/nolan-out-as-islanders-coach/81818/ Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:28:53 EST UNIONDALE — Ted Nolan's brief run as the New York Islanders' coach ended today when he and the general manager, Garth Snow, decided he should not return for a third season behind the bench. The rift between Mr. Nolan and Mr. Snow grew during last season when the Islanders failed to make the playoffs. Mr. Snow said he felt the team was underachieving while Mr. Nolan countered that he lacked adequate personnel. "There have been philosophical differences and we've agreed it's a good time for me to... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/avery-circus-leaves-town-but-rangers-keep/81235/ Thu, 3 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST The wild wheeling and dealing continued on the second day of free agency, and the Rangers were once again big players. This time, rather than signing any marquee free agents, they pulled off a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets that has the potential to pay huge dividends. General manager Glen Sather shipped defensemen Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman to Columbus in exchange for forwards Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche in a deal that should turn out to be ludicrously lopsided in the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/blueshirts-bolster-blue-line-on-frenzied-day/81116/ Wed, 2 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST The first day of NHL free agency brought with it a whirlwind of activity, as a number of high-profile free agents changed teams. At this time of year, no team operates as aggressively as the Rangers, and yesterday was no different. They inked former Ottawa Senators defenseman Wade Redden to a lucrative six-year, $39 million deal, a move that unquestionably upgrades their blue-line corps. Redden is one of the league's most talented puck-moving rearguards, and should provide the Blueshirts' power... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/nhl-musical-chairs-set-to-begin/81021/ Tue, 1 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST Every year on July 1st, the NHL's free agent marketplace opens for business, with a handful (or more) of high-profile players changing teams. This time around, the biggest available name is Marian Hossa, whose strong play in the playoffs for the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins no doubt raised his value. Moreover, with the NHL's salary cap rising by $6.4 million (to $56.7 million), there are more teams with the fiscal flexibility to meet Hossa's sure-to-be-aggressive contract... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/nhl-draft-an-inexact-science/80428/ Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:24:48 EST NHL Draft an Inexact Science By KEVIN GREENSTEIN NHL Convenes Kicks Off at Ottawa Tonight at Ottawa, the National Hockey League's powers-that-be will convene for the first round of the annual Entry Draft, a challenging exercise during which they'll attempt to project the long-term potential of a few hundred 17- and 18-year-old hockey prospects. There are a number of critical differences between the NHL draft and those held for the three other major North American pro sports leagues — most... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/nhl-may-lose-by-checking-rangers/80405/ Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST Back in September, the Rangers filed an antitrust lawsuit against the National Hockey League, alleging that the league had threatened to fine the team $100,000 a day if they didn't relinquish control of their Web site to NHL.com. The league fired back on Wednesday, filing court papers to kick Madison Square Garden LP, the owners of the Rangers, out of the league, or force them to sell the team as punishment for accusing league officials of violating antitrust laws. In its court filing, the NHL... EVAN WEINER http://www.nysun.com/sports/owner-woes-europe-on-bettmans-summer-list/80383/ Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST The commissioner of the National Hockey League, Gary Bettman, apparently isn't too concerned that Tiger Woods said that "I don't think anybody really watches hockey anymore," nor is he worried that hockey critics say the sport is at second- or third-rate levels because of the 2004-05 lockout. (He also did not have a comment yesterday in Ottawa about the ongoing threats of punishment against the Rangers by the league, as covered by Kevin Greenstein in today's paper.) Because of Sidney Crosby... LARRY NEUMEISTER http://www.nysun.com/sports/nhl-may-expel-garden-from-hockey-for-antitrust/80335/ Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:00:25 EST The National Hockey League is threatening to kick Madison Square Garden out of its league as punishment for the owners of the New York Rangers accusing the league of violating antitrust laws. The league filed court papers yesterday that included a draft letter from the NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, notifying MSG that the league has begun disciplinary proceedings because MSG sued it. Madison Square Garden sued the league in September, saying it violated antitrust laws by monopolizing control... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/nhl-cross-checks-rangers-with-lawsuit/80365/ Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:36:54 EST Back in September, the Rangers filed an antitrust lawsuit against the National Hockey League, alleging that the league had threatened to fine the team $100,000 per day if they didn't relinquish control of their Web site to NHL.com. The league fired back on Wednesday, filing court papers to kick Madison Square Garden, L.P., the owners of the Rangers, out of the league, or force them to sell the team as punishment for accusing league officials of violating antitrust laws. In its court filing, the... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/source-hasek-to-retire/79572/ Mon, 9 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST DETROIT — Dominik Hasek is expected to announce his retirement, a person in the NHL told the Associated Press last night. The Detroit Red Wings scheduled a news conference for Monday morning without revealing details. A person within the league, who requested anonymity because the announcement was Hasek's to make, said Hasek was expected to end his award-winning career. Hasek won six Vezina Trophies as the NHL's top goaltender and two Hart Trophies as the league's MVP. The star from the Czech... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/osgood-is-no-longer-the-forgotten-man/79480/ Fri, 6 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST The conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals always brings with it some tremendous story lines, whether it's a city eradicating a 54-year curse (the Rangers) or longtime veterans lifting the Cup for the first time (Ray Bourque, Dave Andreychuk). This spring is no different, of course. Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom was the first European-born captain to lead a team to a Cup victory, hopefully putting to rest the jingoistic notion that European players aren't capable of providing great... IRA PODELL http://www.nysun.com/sports/stanley-cup-returns-to-hockeytown/79359/ Wed, 4 Jun 2008 23:27:05 EST PITTSBURGH — Hockeytown is home to the Stanley Cup — again. Using a little Motown magic on the road, the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in 11 seasons last night with a 3–2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 of the finals. The celebration came two nights later than expected. The Penguins forced the series back to Pennsylvania by tying Game 5 with 34.3 seconds left in regulation and winning it shortly before 1 a.m. in Detroit on Petr Sykora's power-play goal... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/war-torn-penguins-wont-go-quietly-into-night/79262/ Wed, 4 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST It's often said, here and elsewhere, that the pursuit of the Stanley Cup is the most arduous odyssey in North American team sports. It brings out the best — and sometimes the worst — in the competitors, and leaves lasting memories behind. On Monday night, all of the odds seemed stacked against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. They'd blown a 2-0 lead in Game 5 at the Joe Louis Arena and were down 3-2 as the final minutes ticked away. The Red Wings' fans were cacophonously chanting, "We... IRA PODELL http://www.nysun.com/sports/triple-overtime-win-keeps-penguins-alive/79188/ Tue, 3 Jun 2008 08:14:46 EST DETROIT — The pizza was perfect for Petr Sykora and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Deep in overtime and the season hanging in the balance, Sykora scored a power-play goal 9:57 into the third extra session to give the Penguins a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings last night and send the Stanley Cup finals back to the Steel City for Game 6. "We basically just had to keep the fluids going, get some food in you," Sykora said. "We had some pizza coming. We had some power bars and stuff like that."... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/with-calm-consistency-wings-on-brink-of-cup/79079/ Mon, 2 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST By virtue of their nail-biter of a victory in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals, the Detroit Red Wings now find themselves just one win shy of capturing professional sports' most recognizable trophy. The path to this point hasn't always been pretty, but one thing has remained constant: The Wings' discipline and attention to detail has enabled them to earn victories even when they haven't brought their finest game to the ice. This, even more so than their immense talent, has been the deciding... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/penguins-adjustments-give-finals-whole-new-look/78962/ Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 EST After getting shellacked by the Detroit Red Wings in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals by a combined 7-0 score, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins could certainly have been forgiven for suffering a crisis of confidence. Instead, the youthful Pens demonstrated surprising resiliency in the face of a must-win situation for Game 3, adjusting their on-ice strategy and coming away with a stirring 3-2 victory on Wednesday. The biggest key to the Wings' mastery in the series' first two... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/babcock-has-red-wings-playing-at-rarefied-level/78757/ Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 EST The Stanley Cup Finals move to the Steel City tonight, with the Detroit Red Wings holding a commanding 2-0 series lead, making Game Three an unquestionably must-win situation for Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Wings won the first two games by a combined 7-0 score, stifling the Pens' skilled stars while capitalizing on virtually every scoring opportunity their inexperienced opponents provided them. The modern-era NHL has been characterized by defensive coaching, teams guided by... IRA PODELL http://www.nysun.com/sports/samuelsson-scores-2-osgood-stops-19-in-wings-win/78576/ Sat, 24 May 2008 23:36:16 EST DETROIT — It's no surprise the Detroit Red Wings have a Swede to thank for a prime-time performance, but Mikael Samuelsson? The demoted forward busted out of a slump with two goals, and Chris Osgood stifled the Pittsburgh Penguins' young and talented stable of forwards with 19 saves to lift the Red Wings to a 4-0 victory in the opening game of the Stanley Cup finals on Saturday night. Samuelsson doubled his playoff goal total with two in the biggest game of his five-season NHL career. He had... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/star-powered-stanley-cup-finals-has-tremendous/76888/ Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 EST The Stanley Cup finals begin on Saturday night, and by all rights, these playoffs have been a huge success for the National Hockey League. Television ratings are up across the board, rising round by round, and the finals matchup features, without question, the two best teams participating in the 2008 playoffs. They combined for a 24-6 record through the first three rounds, absolutely devastating their competition along the way, making this a fitting and potentially thrilling conclusion to the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/crosby-penguins-follow-in-some-mighty-footsteps/76792/ Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 EST In today's sports world, the hype surrounding top prospects tends to far exceed what they are ultimately able to deliver. But by getting the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals in only his third season, Sidney Crosby has improbably managed to meet the far-reaching expectations that preceded his arrival in Pittsburgh. With the Detroit Red Wings next on Crosby's docket, comparisons to his predecessor as the "Next One" are inevitable. However, the differences between Eric Lindros and... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/penguins-rout-flyers-advance-to-stanley-cup-finals/76610/ Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 EST PITTSBURGH — Sid and the Kids are off to the Stanley Cup finals, thanks to a dominating run by a younger-than-young Pittsburgh Penguins team that has taken only two seasons to transform itself from one of the NHL's worst to one of its best. Ryan Malone, the one Penguins player with firsthand memories of the team's two previous Stanley Cup appearances, scored twice and set up a third goal and Pittsburgh routed Philadelphia 6-0 Sunday to win the Eastern Conference finals. The Penguins, dominating... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/these-wings-may-be-destined-for-greatness/76393/ Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 EST It is five victories too early to anoint the 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings as one of the NHL's all-time great teams. But it's certainly not too early to recognize their remarkable play this spring, as they've lost only two games (11-2 record) in getting to within one win of the Stanley Cup Finals. Judging by the way they manhandled the Stars in Game 3 of their Western Conference Finals, there isn't much hope for Dallas to win Game 4 and avert a sweep, much less come back to win the series. The last... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/has-bad-karma-come-to-haunt-the-broad-street/76321/ Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 EST For the past 40 seasons, few NHL franchises have rivaled the consistent regular season success enjoyed by the Philadelphia Flyers. They have missed the postseason only eight times (including five consecutive misses between 1989-90 and 1993-94, the franchise's one truly dry spell), but have otherwise demonstrated a blueprint for prosperity. Yet, after winning the Stanley Cup in their seventh and eighth seasons of existence (in 1974 and 1975), the Flyers haven't managed to do so again. It leads... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/four-story-lines-15-years-in-the-making/76000/ Wed, 7 May 2008 00:00:00 EST With each step forward in the pursuit of the Stanley Cup, the challenges get steeper and the pressure mounts. At this stage in the game, any weaknesses are typically far outweighed by the strengths that enabled the competitors to get this far, making it harder and harder to advance. And although the second round of these playoffs was surprisingly pitfall-free for the four Conference Finalists — the Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Philadelphia Flyers — all four clubs... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/high-flying-penguins-prove-too-much-for-blueshirts/75817/ Mon, 5 May 2008 00:00:00 EST There is much to like about the progress the Rangers made this season, most notably the inclusion of numerous youngsters in key spots in their lineup. But in the end, the result was the same as last year's, as the Blueshirts were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by a faster, more talented team. And when Marian Hossa took a loose puck off the skate of Rangers defenseman Daniel Girardi and buried it behind Henrik Lundqvist, it gave the Pens a stirring overtime win and sent the... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/jagr-rangers-stave-off-elimination-with-win/75739/ Fri, 2 May 2008 00:00:00 EST Jaromir Jagr was flat on his stomach after scoring and cheers echoed through Madison Square Garden in what might have been his last home game with the Rangers. New York staved off elimination, in what it hopes was the start of a monumental comeback, by beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 last night. The building was in a frenzy after Jagr's second-period goal broke a scoreless tie. He added an empty-netter, and Henrik Lundqvist did the rest with a perfect 29-save performance. Jagr whipped a... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/as-rangers-injuries-mount-improbable-nears/75651/ Thu, 1 May 2008 00:00:00 EST After their stirring first-round victory over their Hudson River rival Devils, the Rangers were flying sky-high. But the dream has rapidly transformed into a nightmare, as the Blueshirts have fallen behind 3-0 in their second-round series against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Compounding the matter further, the Blueshirts have been struck by a rash of ill-timed injuries. They discovered late Tuesday night that Sean Avery is done for the season with a lacerated spleen. The injury is... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/penguins-push-blueshirts-to-brink-of-elimination/75604/ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST Evgeni Malkin and the perfect Pittsburgh Penguins pushed the Rangers to the brink of elimination. Malkin, hours after being announced as a finalist for the NHL MVP award, scored two powerplay goals and added an assist to lift Pittsburgh to a 5–3 victory last night that stretched the Penguins' lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series to 3–0. The Penguins are 7–0 in the postseason, still rolling after a four-game sweep of Ottawa in the first round. They eked out wins at home in the opening... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/what-the-rangers-need-to-do-to-get-back-in-series/75475/ Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST When evaluating the Rangers' chances in their second-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, one thing is all but certain: They must win tonight's Game 3 at Madison Square Garden. In NHL history, the teams that have taken a 3-0 series lead have won 147 times in 149 tries, or just about 99% of the time.With Sidney Crosby leading the Pens' potent offense — and the red-hot Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes — the Blueshirts shouldn't expect to buck that trend. Now, the Rangers and Penguins... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/crosby-threatens-blueshirts-stability/75423/ Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST It would certainly be easy for the Rangers to blame the officials for their falling down 0–2 in their series against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. A slew of questionable calls in both Games 1 and 2 gave the Pens numerous power play opportunities they shouldn't have had. And the time the Rangers spent killing off those penalties no doubt had a deleterious effect on their overall performances in the first two games of this series. In particular, Crosby's unnerving tendency to flop to... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/staals-goal-stalls-rangers-in-2-0-loss/75424/ Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Jordan Staal's game-winning playoff goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins couldn't have made his parents much happier. Or sadder. Staal's power-play goal in the second period broke a scoreless tie and Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made the lead stand up, giving the Penguins a 2–0 victory yesterday over the Rangers and a home-ice sweep of the first two games of their second-round series. Staal's goal came with older brother Marc, a Rangers defenseman, on the ice, and was all... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/rangers-look-to-end-march-of-the-penguins/75238/ Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST The Rangers are keeping things within the Atlantic Division, at least for round two. After dispatching the Devils in five games, they now take on Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, another opponent with whom they are quite familiar. The teams met eight times during the regular season, and though the Penguins — like the Devils — finished with a better record than the Blueshirts overall, it was the Rangers who held the head-to-head edge, winning five times. Though the Penguins boast some... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/lupuls-overtime-goal-advances-flyers-past-caps/75200/ Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST The Philadelphia Flyers finally figured out how to put away the Washington Capitals. Joffrey Lupul put in a rebound during a power play 6:06 into overtime in Game 7 to lift Philadelphia past Alex Ovechkin and Washington 3–2 last night in their Eastern Conference first-round series. The Flyers led the best-of-seven series 3–1 before allowing the Capitals to pull even. Lupul found space in front of the net to get a backhander past Cristobal Huet after Washington's goalie had deflected Kimmo... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/every-cup-chase-has-its-heroes-villains/74905/ Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST The Stanley Cup playoffs are an arduous journey — two long months of blood, sweat, and tears that come to a conclusion when one team lifts Lord Stanley's cherished chalice in euphoria. But while the celebration provides a tremendous payoff for the winners and their loyal fans, the journey to get there is what makes the experience so special. The stories that come out of the annual playoff odyssey are what define the NHL experience best. There are heroes and villains, roles defined partly by the... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/staal-rangers-push-devils-to-brink-of-elimination/74850/ Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST Marc Staal pushed the Rangers within a win of the second round, and he did it with a good old slap shot. No tricks or funky screens were needed to beat Martin Brodeur and the Devils on this night. Staal scored his first NHL playoff goal with 3:13 left in Game 4, and the Rangers earned a 5–3 victory last night and 3–1 series lead in the series over New Jersey. Scott Gomez had two goals and Chris Drury also scored for the Rangers, who could end the series Friday with a win at New Jersey. New York... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/avery-brodeur-feud-fires-up-series/74714/ Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST The Devils have suffered some serious on-ice losses over the past few years, with many of their most important contributors departing for greener pastures. And with the latest defector, Scott Gomez, outscoring the Devils through Games 1 and 2 of their first round series with the Rangers, the pendulum of power in the Hudson River Rivalry appeared to have swung decisively in the Blueshirts' favor. But counting out this Devils team would be foolhardy, for two of the most important characteristics... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/maddens-overtime-winner-gets-devils-back-into/74640/ Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST John Madden scored 6:01 into overtime to get the Devils back into their first-round series against the Rangers with a 4–3 victory last night. New Jersey beat the Rangers New Jersey beat the Rangers for just the second time in 11 games this season, and will look to tie the series in Game 4 on Wednesday night. The series will then shift back to New Jersey on Friday. Madden took a faceoff to the right of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, and the puck slid into the corner. Madden got to the loose... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/gomez-burns-devils-with-three-assists-as-rangers/74489/ Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST NEWARK, N.J. — Scott Gomez showed the Devils just what they let get away. In his first playoff game against the team he grew up with, Gomez assisted on three of the Rangers' goals in a 4–1 playoff-opening win over the Devils last night. Ryan Callahan surprised Devils goalie Martin Brodeur with a goal-scoring swoop around the net in the third period, and the Rangers wrested away home-ice advantage from New Jersey. Callahan's shot off a drop pass from Gomez, trickled tantalizingly in the crease... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/rangers-offense-gives-playoff-edge/74426/ Wed, 9 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST Tonight at the Prudential Center in Newark, the Rangers and Devils will drop the puck on the 2008 playoffs in what should be a compelling first-round series. The NHL's current schedule format provides for eight games against division rivals, and so the adage "familiarity breeds contempt" will certainly apply to these two teams. The Devils secured home-ice advantage with their shoot-out victory over the Rangers in Sunday's regular season finale — but the Rangers won the other seven meetings... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/race-for-cup-wide-open-as-nhls-second-season/74300/ Tue, 8 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST The NHL's playoffs are upon us, and after a highly competitive regular season marked by never-before-seen parity, it's shaping up to be a wide-open race to the Stanley Cup. When the season began, we predicted that the San Jose Sharks would defeat the Rangers in the Cup Finals. And after 1,230 regular season games, we're sticking with that long-ago prognostication. Here's a look at what to expect in each of the eight first-round series, followed by predictions for the interim rounds and the... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/bettman-steers-nhl-in-right-direction/74222/ Mon, 7 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST The National Hockey League's playoffs are set to begin on Wednesday night, an intense eight-week competition that tests the endurance of the competitors as much as, or even more than, their skill. At the end of the arduous journey, the commissioner of the NHL, Gary Bettman, hands North America's most recognizable sports trophy — the Stanley Cup — to the winner. Though the commissioner's introduction has often precipitated a showering of boos, there are some clear signs that the tide is turning... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/with-win-devils-get-home-ice-advantage-versus/74244/ Mon, 7 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST NEWARK, N.J. —With the final seconds ticking off the clock in regulation, the Devils stood on the bench and started congratulating one another. It didn't make a difference that there was an overtime to play and that the Rangers would still be on a power play. The Devils accomplished their primary mission yesterday. The got home-ice advantage for the first-round playoff series against their longtime New York area rivals. The Devils got the other half of the job done minutes later, beating the... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/rangers-clinch-playoff-spot-as-jagr-nets-two-goals/74163/ Fri, 4 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST Jaromir Jagr scored two powerplay goals in a 2-minute span of the first period, Henrik Lundqvist stopped 25 shots, and the Rangers clinched an Eastern Conference playoff berth with a 3-0 victory over the Islanders last night. The Rangers entered a home-and-home series against their arch-rivals knowing the Islanders would enjoy nothing more than to derail their postseason plans. Jagr made sure early on that it wouldn't happen. He connected for goals 1:59 apart against goalie Wade Dubielewicz... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/time-for-goalies-to-get-their-due/74108/ Thu, 3 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST When looking at NHL player salaries, there's one anomaly that stands out above all others: Only two of the league's 30 highest-paid players are goaltenders. This is despite the reality that NHL netminders arguably have more of an impact on their team's success than any other position player in North American professional sports. Case in point: Two netminders who changed teams this season proved to be huge difference-makers for their new teams. In Phoenix, the November arrival of Ilya Bryzgalov... KEVIN GREENSTEIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/how-the-shootout-affects-the-standings/73937/ Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST The 2004–05 lockout brought about tremendous change for the NHL, both in terms of its economic structure and its rule book. Some of the changes were designed to work in concert to help all 30 teams remain competitive despite the fact that some clubs are far more profitable (the Rangers, Flyers, and Maple Leafs, for example) than others (the Predators, Capitals, and Coyotes). Others, like the crackdown on obstruction and interference, were implemented in order to increase scoring. Of all the... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/rangers-top-penguins-on-drurys-overtime-winner/73957/ Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST Chris Drury scored a power-play goal 1:46 into overtime, giving the Rangers a 2–1 victory over Pittsburgh last night that kept the Penguins from clinching their first division title in 10 years. The Rangers were given the advantage in the opening minute of the extra session when Sergei Gonchar held Jaromir Jagr as he drove to the net. Pittsburgh is still in prime position to win the Atlantic Division, leading New Jersey by seven points. The Penguins, with 100 points, are two ahead of Montreal... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/crosby-sets-up-two-goals-as-penguins-top-rangers/73869/ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST PITTSBURGH — Evgeni Malkin skated off the ice with a nasty gash on his left cheek, a souvenir from a game that was better suited for May than for March. For the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are close to full strength for the first time in weeks, the playoffs already seem to have arrived. Sidney Crosby set up goals by Marian Hossa and Malkin and the Penguins, on the verge of clinching their division, moved into first place in the Eastern Conference by beating the penalty-prone Rangers 3–1 yesterday...