One is pretty simple -- take a couple of great teams, put them in a deep playoff situation, and make them mighty annoyed at each other, and home ice isn't going to matter much. This is old-school, every-other-night hockey at its finest, and a couple of loud fans won't affect much.
Another recurring theme is the Rangers' brutal penchant throughout their final 14 games of allowing late tying goals. After Steve Larmer scores on the power play with 8:55 to go in the third to take a 3-2 lead, the Rangers protect the lead until the final minute. But at 19:17, Claude Lemieux scores to tie the game.
And that sets up another recurring theme -- double-overtime goals by guys named Stephane. Tonight, it's Stephane Richer from Bobby Carpenter at 35:23 of overtime. The Rangers get caught deep. Richer ends up in a one-on-one against Adam Graves; Graves misses. Mike Richter attempts a rare pokecheck, but Richer's shot rolls up the stick and past Richter into the net.
Round 1 to Joisey.
NJD 1 0 2 0 1--4
NYR 1 1 1 0 0--3
(New Jersey leads series, 1-0)
Goals: NJ--MacLean, Guerin, Lemieux, Richer; NY--Zubov, Nemchinov, Larmer.
Assists: NJ--Nicholls 2, Albelin, Driver, MacLean, Carpenter; NY--Messier
2, Gilbert, Noonan. Goalies: NJ--Brodeur (38 shots-35 saves); NY--Richter
(48-44). Power plays: NJ--0 of 2; NY--1 of 3.
Mike Fornabaio -- mef17@oocities.com
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