Considering that my left index finger is jammed from something I did at the game in an electric MSG atmosphere, well at least the title kinda fits. I can’t really think of anything else except that the darn ice didn’t help much. Oh well.

Onto what was a successful Rangers home opener with a 4-2 win over the Original Six Blackhawks last night in which the newly acquired Aaron Voros had a big game notching his first goal as a Blueshirt and tallying an assist for a multi-point night playing alongside super soph Brandon Dubinsky and Russian lightning rod Nikolai Zherdev.

The newly formed trio combined for three goals and four assists in a well earned victory over a game Chicago squad which really has no more excuses for not qualifying for the postseason. With young talent like new captain Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Martin Havlat, Patrick Sharp and Dustin Byfuglien, this team is loaded up front and was dangerous when they attacked the Rangers.

The good news for Tom Renney’s club was that a jittery start which saw a few too many turnovers with speedy Hawks getting behind the D didn’t result in any goals against due to some shots fired wide and the clutch play of Henrik Lundqvist, who was busier than in the first two wins making 30 saves including some timely stops like one on Sharp in close denying him.

Despite the Hawks’ speed, it was the Rangers who drew first blood when the 25th captain in franchise history Chris Drury wisely floated a low shot at new Chicago No.1 goalie Cristobal Huet which he couldn’t control caroming out to Wade Redden, who blasted into the top portion of the net for his second in two games 6:47 into the contest. Markus Naslund also picked up an assist.

The goal didn’t deter Denis Savard’s young squad as they picked it up carrying the play by attacking the Rangers with an aggressive forecheck leading to some neutral zone turnovers. However, they couldn’t get one past Lundqvist until late in the period when Kane was left alone behind the net to find a Brian Campbell rebound tying the game at 17:18.

Playing a more up tempo style which even was against Renney’s liking due to it favoring Chicago, the Rangers managed alright getting the only two markers of the second. Both came off their own attack forcing the Hawks into bad decisions.

First, a couple of Chicago players had trouble playing a puck due in large part to the aggressive forecheck of Voros, Dubinsky and Zherdev with the trio taking it away before the second-year pivot handed off to the ex-Wild grinder who buried the chance from 15 feet for his first as a Ranger at 5:15.

Before Dubinsky tallied his second of the season 10:21 later on an outstanding solo effort showing strength before blasting one upstairs, the Hawks forechecked vigorously getting their chances including an excellent one for defenseman Duncan Keith, who couldn’t beat Lundqvist as King Henrik got his blocker up brushing it aside. The play of the fourth-year 26 year-old Swede was the difference. He was just a little better than Huet, who by no stretch was bad in turning aside 25 of 29.

Trailing by a pair, the Blackhawks came hard in the third and it paid off when they kept the Rangers pinned in allowing converted forward Byfuglien to dish off to a cutting Keith in the slot who made no mistake ripping one top shelf to slice it to 3-2 with 12:47 remaining. Sharp also registered an assist.

However, just when it seemed the younger club would make the climb all the way back, some more heady play from Dubinsky, Voros and Zherdev resulted in huge insurance when the trio combined in the neutral zone to setup Zherdev on a three-on-two with the exciting 23 year-old ex-Jacket making no mistake wristing one top shelf for his first in True Blue, making it 4-2 just 2:20 later. Where Mama hides the cookies to quote legendary Buffalo play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret.

Most impressive on the well executed play was the perfect cross-ice feed from Voros, who notched 16 points a season ago with Minnesota. I knew he was a hard worker and liked the addition right away because of his energy and forecheck ability. What I didn’t realize was his ability to read plays. A great pass from an underrated player who fans will really grow to appreciate.

No question this Voros came to play in front of a fun atmosphere debuting well much like the other Voros. He earned No.1 star with Dubinsky getting No.3 while rookie center Lauri Korpikoski earned second star logging 12:43 in his third NHL regular season game. Not bad for the hard working Finn who looks to have promise. He played alongside Nigel Dawes and Ryan Callahan with the speedy trio providing solid energy with a couple of near misses from Korp’s linemates.

If Renney wasn’t satisfied with the track meet his team prevailed in, he had to at least come away pleased with how his club protected a two-goal lead. Despite Chicago outshooting them 13-7 in the final 20 and 32-29 overall, the Blueshirts were sharper in the last 10-plus minutes following Zherdev’s goal keeping Hawks outside and limiting opportunities.

All in all, I’ll take it.

Three Stars

3rd Star-Fredrik Sjostrom, NYR (11:23 TOI, two hits)

2nd Star-Brandon Dubinsky, NYR (goal, two assists, plus-two, 5 hits, 4 SOG in 16:15, 11-4 on draws)

1st Star-Aaron Voros, NYR (goal, assist, plus-two, 4 SOG in 14:38)

Ranger Lines

Naslund-Gomez-Drury

Voros-Dubinsky-Zherdev

Dawes-Korpikoski-Callahan

Sjostrom-Betts-Orr

Redden-Rozsival

Staal-Mara

Kalinin-Girardi

The Rangers warm up for home opener

Both teams during pregame skate

Quick Hits:

-The Rangers are 3-0 to start a season for the first time since 1989-90.

-In his first game this season, Fredrik Sjostrom played well in 11:23 demonstrating good speed while playing fourth line, killing penalties and nearly had his first on a great effort with a forehand stuff try missing wide.

-There were a couple of scraps with Callahan getting the decision over Colin Fraser and Paul Mara showing some character in a win over Jack Skille earning cheers. A crowd will always appreciate when a defenseman drops’em though I’m not sure how wise it is when our roster only has six due to being overstocked up front.

-Marc Staal was very good getting the second most minutes on the blueline to Michal Rozsival (23:15) with 20:21 finishing plus one and winning the majority of the battles in his end. He looks very polished. I also feel Mara has played well with him. He really has worked hard.

-One shaky moment for the new Malik Dmitri Kalinin but otherwise the former Sabre was alright.

-Blair Betts played a decent game working diligently and even getting a shorthanded chance testing Huet’s glove with a slapper labeled.

-Drury was very active and really seems to have chemistry with Scott Gomez and Naslund. The question is will they remain intact?

-I thought Keith was good for the Hawks offensively but he was minus-two despite his goal. He did play big minutes (29:46) along with partner Campbell (29:06).

-The Hawks have a solid top four that are young and can all skate but the bottom couple Jordan Hendry and rookie Niklas Hjalmarsson hardly played combining for less than 10 minutes which puts a lot of pressure on the other four with James Wisniewski out indefinitely due to a torn ACL.

-While Toews, Kane, Sharp and Byfuglien all had good games, Havlat was awfully quiet with only one sharp angle shot which Lundqvist ate up. He’s in a contract year and really needs to stay healthy and play inspired if this team is to make the playoffs.

-Chicago held the edge in the circle going 32-23 in faceoffs.

-Each team went 0-for-3 on the power play.

-The Rangers are back at it tonight in the Flyers home opener with Sarah Palin dropping the ceremonial first puck. Scrooge trashed it. I’m iffy on how I feel about John McCain’s running mate being there but she’s a “hockey Mom”. Gee. Golly.

-Couple of surprises from last night with the Thrashers scoring seven on the combination of Jose Theodore and Brent Johnson for a 7-4 win over the Caps. Bryan Little notched two goals and an assist and Niclas Havelid had three helpers to offset a pair of Mike Green power play goals. Kari Lehtonen (39 saves) came up big thwarting Alexander Ovechkin on a penalty shot with the game tied in the third before Atlanta erupted for three in 2:10.

Also getting a win was Columbus despite blowing a 4-2 lead in the last 3:18 with Brad Richards and Trevor Daley scoring on consecutive shifts to help Dallas force OT. But Jackets’ captain Rick Nash stepped up for the deciding tally with 21 seconds left finishing off a three-on-two by wristing one past Marty Turco for a 5-4 road victory. Jason Chimera notched his second assist on the winner and ex-Ranger Christian Backman got a secondary helper finishing plus-two. Stephane Robidas chipped in three assists for the hosts in a tough loss.

There were two other ex-Rangers in this one with Sean Avery playing 16:54 registering no points and a slashing minor playing with Mike Modano. On the winner’s side, Fedor Tyutin donning his familiar No.51 logged 23:07 picking up two minors while finishing plus-one.

Other winners included:

-The Blues 5-2 over Nashville getting two goals from Keith Tkachuk and two assists from Paul Kariya.

-The Hurricanes defeated the Panthers in their home opener 6-4 getting goals from six different players including new defenseman Joni Pitkanen with Tim Gleason netting three helpers offsetting a goal and assist efforts from ex-Cane Cory Stillman and David Booth.

-The Sabres made it a successful home opener by a 2-1 count in the shootout over the Canadiens. New Hab Robert Lang tallied for the visitors and Thomas Vanek answered in the first with Teppo Numminen returning with a primary assist after missing 81 games last season due to heart surgery. Both netminders were solid with Carey Price finishing with 35 saves while Ryan Miller had 27. Ales Kotalik and Drew Stafford each tallied in the skill competition giving Buffalo the extra point.

Get out the magic crystal ball. We’re about to embark on a long journey. Thirty teams get a fresh start where they can dare to dream of winning Lord Stanley. The most spectacular trophy in all of sports which arguably is the hardest to win.

It’s not just because you have to gut out an 82-game schedule which at times can be trying due to the tireless back to backs, three in four nights and even seven in 11 days the Rangers have beginning with tomorrow’s home opener versus Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and the Blackhawks following a hectic preseason concluding with a two-game sweep of the overmatched Lightning in Croatia.

Such can be life in a league which seems to be pointed for expansion towards Europe emphasizing just how global the game has become with the Penguins and Senators also splitting a series in Stockholm last weekend.

Finally, the other 26 get started including an improved Devils team who dialed up Doc Brown’s time machine and went Back To The Future literally to the year of their first Stanley Cup luring free agent centers Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik for one more run while Martin Brodeur’s still good enough.

For other teams like the Islanders, the immediate future doesn’t look so bright with new coach Scott Gordon behind the bench where returning leading scorer Mike Comrie had only 49 points on what’s a rebuild around Rick DiPietro and young former No.1 Kyle Okposo. They’ll try to overachieve in an ultra competitive Atlantic where the Flyers fresh off a run to the Conference Finals losing to the Pens appear to be the favorite while Pittsburgh lost Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone and are without top D Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar for at least the first three months.

Can the new look Rangers featuring Nikolai Zherdev, Markus Naslund and Wade Redden make fans forget Jaromir Jagr or did Glen Sather slip up?

Are the Panthers ready to qualify for their first postseason since Pavel Bure was the league’s best finisher or will their revamped blueline not be enough without departed captain Olli Jokinen? Can Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals do it again even with Jose Theodore in net?

Meanwhile in Carolina, the injury bug has already hit infecting Justin Williams, Scott Walker and Rod Brind’Amour making the loss of Erik Cole big though Joni Pitkanen was brought into help anchor the D. Will Barry Melrose’s return to the NHL bench be ruined by the Lightning’s apparent weak blueline?

Should the Thashers even bother taking the ice? They’ll have company in Columbus, St. Louis and Los Angeles who all should be ticketed in the John Tavares sweepstakes. Are the Leafs going to be in this process too without Mats Sundin? Maybe Toronto fans should hope.

Can Carey Price recover from last Spring to lead what looks like an even stronger Habs roster into serious contention? Are Craig Rivet and the return of Teppo Numminen enough to get a talented Sabres team back to the postseason? Is Tim Thomas a fluke and will Patrice Bergeron be the same in Beantown? Can the Senators continue defying logic despite losing another key cog?

These questions and more will get answered in due time along with whether Hossa’s addition is enough for the Red Wings to become the first repeat winner since they did it a decade ago. They’ll have plenty of stiff competition in the loaded Stars, Sharks and Ducks with maybe a couple of newcomers sneaking into the parade.

This is how we see it:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

*1.Flyers- plenty of talent in Richards/Carter but can Biron build off last year’s run?

*2.Canadiens- adding Lang and Tanguay up front makes them scarier but it all depends on Price.

*3.Capitals- the game’s best player, a healthy Nylander plus Green and Backstrom should be enough.

4.Senators- best line in game plus deep forward corps and tougher D help despite questions in net.

5.Devils- Rolston and Holik should boost scoring, D remains question but can’t bet against Brodeur.

6.Rangers- Drury leads an improved transition game. could miss Jagr and Avery but Lundqvist helps.

7.Penguins- Crosby and Malkin get them in but we don’t like Satan or Fedotenko. Hard to take seriously.

8.Sabres- balanced scoring led by Pominville, Vanek, Roy plus better D and steady Miller in net.

9.Bruins- Ryder added to solid forward corps but it’s dependent on Thomas and system.

10.Panthers- love their new look with Ballard and McCabe but who’s scoring the goals up front?

11.Maple Leafs- Wilson will get them to play hard but there’s just not enough there to get in.

12.Hurricanes- injuries already taking toll. Laviolette’s a fine coach but Ward needs to be consistent.

13.Lightning- Stamkos should win Calder and they’ll score but the D is brutal and will tire out goalies.

14.Thrashers- Schneider was good addition but they’ll have to outscore teams until Lehtonen improves.

15.Islanders- they’ll work hard but they’re young and don’t have enough scoring even with Streit.
PLAYOFFS

Flyers over Sabres in 6

Habs over Pens in 7

Rangers over Caps in 6

Devils over Sens in 5

Flyers over Rangers in 6

Devils over Habs in 7

Flyers over Devils in 6

WESTERN CONFERENCE

*1.Red Wings- until proven otherwise, they’re the best team and add Hossa to mix. Conklin’s solid backup.

*2.Stars- play in top division but Avery, full year of B. Richards should be plenty. Need Zubov healthy.

*3.Canucks- scoring could still be tough but like changes and see Luongo bouncing back big time.

4.Sharks- Marleau with Thornton, Boyle, Blake plus Nabokov make them awfully tough.

5.Flames- nice additions including Bertuzzi/Keenan reunion but they’ll be hardpressed to win a round.

6.Ducks- Teemu’s back plus Getzlaf/Perry, Niedermayer/Pronger and Giguere make them lock.

7.Avalanche- Sakic takes one more shot with Tucker added but can Budaj or Raycroft do job?

8.Blackhawks- Campbell and Huet help young core led by Kane/Toews. Huet could get them in.

9.Oilers- bolstered scoring with Cole and Visnovsky. Lots of young talent but what about goalies?

10.Predators- Radulov’s departure hurts scoring. Solid D but can Ellis repeat? Trotz is a great coach.

11.Wild- possess nice blueline led by Burns/Zidlicky and Gaborik’s great but is there enough scoring?

12.Coyotes- Jokinen helps but D is thin past top 3 and they’re depending on too much young talent.

13.Blue Jackets- Umberger and Huselius boost Nash plus revamped D and Leclaire but who else will score?

14.Blues- Love Boyes and Kariya’s due for bounce back season but they’re extremely young.

15.Kings- top line of Brown, Kopitar and O’Sullivan will be fun but LaBarbera in net? They can’t be serious!

PLAYOFFS

Wings over Hawks in 5

Stars over Avs in 4

Ducks over Canucks in 6

Sharks over Flames in 6

Wings over Ducks in 6

Stars over Sharks in 5

Wings over Stars in 7

Stanley Cup Red Wings over Flyers in 7

NHL Awards

Conn Smythe- Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit

Hart- Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit

Vezina- Roberto Luongo, Vancouver

Norris- Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit (renamed The Lidstrom)

Calder- Kyle Okposo, Islanders

Selke- Mike Fisher, Ottawa

Byng- Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit

Adams- Denis Savard, Chicago

Just a couple of quick tidbits over the past couple of days in case you missed it:

-The Rangers re-signed restricted forward Nigel Dawes to a one-year $600,000 deal. In 61 games during his rookie season, the 23 year-old Manitoban who the Original Six club selected in the fifth round back in 2003 posted 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points while pacing them with a plus-11 rating. His four deciding tallies tied with Sean Avery for third on the team and put him in a tie for second among rookies.

No surprise here that the Blueshirts brought the promising left wing back. He really made strides last season improving his overall speed and really becoming an effective forechecker. His passing also was very underrated. Figure Dawes to take that next step up this Fall with 20-25 goals a possibility.

Recently acquired forward Dan Fritsche was also re-signed.

In other club news, the team signed 24 year-old Russian defenseman Vladimir Denisov. He played in 66 games for Lake Erie of the AHL registering two goals and six assists for eight points while racking up 111 penalty minutes.

-The Oilers re-signed center Shawn Horcoff to a six-year $33 million extension. The new contract will keep him in Edmonton through 2014-15. In 53 games this past season, the 29 year-old from British Columbia tallied 21 goals and 29 helpers for 50 points bouncing back from a disappointing 2006-07 in which he had just one more point (51) while posting a minus-22 rating in 27 more games played.

Horcoff’s a nice playmaking pivot but giving him six years seems a bit much as by the end of the contract, he’ll be 35 going on 36. Is he really a $5 million dollar player? I guess in today’s crazy NHL, that’s the case.

-In a couple of minor signings, the Thrashers added former Edmonton veteran forward Marty Reasoner while Calgary brought back ex-Ranger 1999 first round pick Jamie Lundmark. It’s ashame what became of his career after the Blueshirts ruined him letting the Edmonton native waste away in Hartford before barely playing him in New York. Why did the Flames even bring him back? Amazingly, he’s only 27. So, we’ll see if he’s got anything left after splitting the past year in Moscow and Lake Erie.

As for Reasoner, I always liked him as he was a decent skater who put forth an honest effort fitting in well on Edmonton after starting his career with St. Louis. The 31 year-old Rochester native will probably play on the fourth line with Atlanta.

-The Islanders re-signed forwards Sean Bergenheim and Jeff Tambellini. The 24 year-old Bergenheim attained career highs in games (78), goals (10), assists (12), points (22) and PIM (62) last season after spending 2006-07 with Frolunda in Sweden posting near a point-a-game. He’s a solid energy player who can play in a third line role and agitate the opposition.

As for Tambellini who the Isles acquired from Los Angeles a couple of years prior, the former Kings’ 2003 first round selection has yet to develop scoring just one goal while adding three helpers in 31 games last season on Long Island. For some reason, GM Garth Snow gave the 24 year-old Calgary native a two-year contract. They’re only paying him $1.175 million which is an average of less than 600 K. Still, it would’ve made more sense to give Tambellini a year and see how he does.

-Other minor signings included the Blues inking former Leaf D Andy Wozniewski while the Sharks added a pair of veteran blueliners in Matt Kinch and Brett Westgarth.

-The Sabres re-signed forward Daniel Paille to a multi-year deal. The former Buffalo 2002 first rounder achieved new career bests in games (77), goals (19), assists (16), points (35) and plus/minus (9) while registering three shorthanded goals. For some reason, the 24 year-old out of Welland, Ontario didn’t have a link in the original TSN story. Doesn’t that seem odd considering the kind of season he had? As our Buffalo blogger might say, it’s a Buffalo thing. If it were the Leafs, well…Seems like a decent move anyway.

-From the bizarro world last night, the Kings reportedly have hired Terry Murray as their new coach giving him a three-year deal to replace Marc Crawford. He was an assistant with the Flyers the last four seasons. He hasn’t coached since 2000-01 with the Panthers.

Murray’s best known for guiding the Flyers to the Stanley Cup 11 years ago before referring to them going down 3-0 to Detroit as a “choking situation,” sealing his fate. I doubt he’ll be able to utter those words with the porous Kings. Best of luck.

While the Rangers were busy continuing their winning ways down in Raleigh, another resurgent New York team was getting it done in Atlanta.

Despite blowing a 3-0 lead and a 4-3 one late, the Islanders came out with an important 5-4 OT victory over the Thrashers last night courtesy of Trent Hunter’s stick. The 27 year-old grinding right winger who recently re-signed with the club for a five-year $10 million deal (bargain much?) notched his ninth of the season just 69 seconds into the extra session to give his team their third consecutive win and seventh in the last nine.

For some reason, after Atlanta won a defensive draw, they had a brutal turnover allowing Islander pivot Josef Vasicek to steal the puck and find a wide open Hunter all alone in front. He knew what to do burying one upstairs past Kari Lehtonen to keep his club’s playoff chances very much alive.

Hunter also assisted on Vasicek’s 14th in the first as the Isles got the first three of the topsy turvy contest before a furious Atlanta second period rally knotted it up. When recently re-upped top center Mike Comrie notched his second of the game and 20th overall 3:17 into the final stanza, it looked like the Islanders would win in regulation. However, Rick DiPietro allowed a softie to Holik from 45 feet out with 1:22 left which forced OT.

DiPietro definitely wasn’t on top of his game as it wasn’t the only bad goal he gave up. Still, he came up with a few big stops in regulation as well which is what made the couple of softies mystifying.

Fortunately for the normally unflappable No.1 goalie, Vasicek to Hunter helped bail him out as his team got a huge two points to stay within a couple of points of eighth place Philly, who won 3-1 over the slumping Sens.

You really have to give this team a ton of credit. Given all the injuries to key personnel such as Brendan Witt, Mike Sillinger, Andy Sutton and Chris Campoli, somehow Ted Nolan’s club is still hanging in there.

They have a really vital weekend with back-to-backs at home against the Panthers and Flyers before a crucial home-and-home versus the bitter rival Rangers next week.

These games could go a long way to determining their fate.

Some notes:

-Andy Hilbert notched a goal and an assist. He’s done alright after such a dreadful start to his second season in Long Island.

-Defenseman Bryan Berard tallied two primary assists. The former 1996-97 Calder winner still has pretty good vision and can get involved offensively. The Isles need him to do it more consistently down the stretch.

-Deadline pickup Rob Davison assisted on one goal for his first point as an Islander. It was the ex-Shark’s first point of the season in 19 games.

-The Atlanta defense was brutal guilty of some pretty costly turnovers which led directly to three NYI goals including Hunter’s deciding tally.

-New Thrashers Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen combined for just an assist and a minus-four rating.

-Eric Perrin converted a shorthanded penalty shot pulling off a nifty forehand deke to get the Thrashers on the board. The ex-Bolt also registered an assist.

-Both teams combined to go 0-for-10 on the power play with the Isles taking the collar in seven opportunities.

Marian Hossa is on his way to the Penguins for prospect Angelo Esposito and forwards Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen.

Analysis: Wow! What a deal that is for the Pens. They lost only two depth forwards and got one of the better scoring forwards in the league. Figure Crosby gets to center him when he returns leaving Malkin to play with Sykora and Malone as they’ve formed a great chemistry. The Thrashers did get Esposito in the deal and he was highly rated. So maybe it works out for them as well.

The Rangers acquired D Christian Backman from the Blues in exchange for a fourth round pick.

Analysis: A smart move by Glen Sather not overpaying like so many other teams did today. He got a serviceable defender instead who should fill in nicely for the injured Paul Mara.

Well not really. With a chance to pull in front of the idle Penguins for sole possession of first in the Atlantic, the Devils had to settle for one point in a tough 4-3 shootout home defeat at the hands of the Thrashers Friday night.

Things were looking good for the Devs when they got the first two markers of the contest off the sticks of leading scorer Zach Parise and Brian Gionta (second straight game with goal). However, Atlanta cameback to knot it thanks to second period goals from Ilya Kovalchuk and Todd White.

When gritty two-way pivot John Madden somehow banked one in for his 15th off an Atlanta defender in front, it looked like it might be enough for New Jersey to come away with the ‘W.’ But with Johan Hedberg pulled for an extra attacker in the final frantic minute, Marian Hossa managed to net the equalizer nudging one past Martin Brodeur with only 18.1 ticks left forcing overtime.

In OT, the Thrashers were given a makeup call due to an undetected Vitaly Vishnevski slash which bloodied one-time New Jersey Devil Ken Klee. The Thrashers came close to scoring but only to see an outstretched Brodeur do what he does best thwarting quality scoring chances during the four-on-three. The three-time Cup and Vezina winner finished with 29 saves.

The game eventually would wind up in a shootout. The Devils put their perfect 3-0 record versus Atlanta on the line but this time, it was the Thrashers who came out with the victory thanks to ex-Ranger Pascal Dupuis’ laser past Brodeur’s glove in the 10th round. When Arron Asham’s try sailed wide, Hedberg had won the battle finishing with 30 saves including stopping eight of 10 NJ shooters in the skills competition.

For their part, the Thrashers move into a tie for first with Carolina in the crowded Southeast. Combined with the Panthers’ home win over the Caps, those four teams are separated by two points with suddenly resurgent Tampa Bay making a push within six of first place.

So, how crazy is it? The Rangers who haven’t played since last weekend will finally take the ice later today in a matinee against the seventh seeded Sabres. They will enter with one more point than either Atlanta or Carolina.

Wins are the thing now for Tom Renney’s desperate club with 23 games remaining to salvage their season.

For the Devs, they are now tied with the Pens with an identical 32-21-5 mark for 69 points with each club having 24 left. It’s anyone’s guess what will happen in another tight division race which sees the slumping Flyers four behind while the Blueshirts are six out and the Isles trail by 10.

We’ll have much more later today.

Usually, the quotes they send from the NHL Today come from hockey players or coaches. But this one actually was made by NBA star LeBron James on 2006-07 Hart Trophy winner Sidney Crosby’s impact:

HE SAID IT

“I know he’s great at what he does. They call him ‘Sid the Kid,’ he’s been
great for the Pittsburgh Penguins and what he’s able to do, as young as he is,
is pretty good. I know they compare him to me and I’m excited to be compared to a guy who plays the game the way he does.”

How cool is that? When most would figure a basketball star wouldn’t even notice hockey, it turns out not to be true in LeBron’s case.

And while it’s fairly accurate that most puck fans can’t stand basketball, not all athletes who play one of the two winter sports feel the same way about the other.

Just look at Jaromir Jagr as example No.1. The Ranger hockey superstar has gone to Knick games (hopefully not this season though as they suck) and even used basketball terminology and applied it to the game he plays.

If you’ve also watched how No.68 uses his ass to protect the puck and back in opposing defenders, it looks eerily similar to a low post player making a move trying to score a basket. But in Jagr’s case, a goal in the net.

Team defense is actually similar in that you have to move with your man in the defensive end or they’ll get free to score an easy basket. In hockey, it’s a little more difficult because you still have to beat the goalie even with a quality chance.

But you have a much better opportunity to score if you get away from the defender and are one-on-one with the netminder.

Who would’ve believed that two totally different sports could be so similar? The more structured you are defensively with your system, the better chance you have of being successful in hockey terms. And the more fundamentally sound you are in your end, the better off you’ll be if you want to go far in the NBA playoffs.

This explains why the Spurs have won three NBA titles in the past five years and four dating back to 1999 proving just how valuable Tim Duncan really is. Sure, it helps to have played alongside David Robinson and now the fundamentally sound core of Finals MVP Tony Parker and the versatile Sixth Man Manu Ginobili.

That’s why high flying teams such as the Suns never win when it really counts. In the NHL, you have the Thrashers and Lightning who play wide open run and gun styles similar to the one Steve Nash runs in Phoenix. However, unlike Nash who has stars around him that can at least guarantee them some postseason success, Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards, Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa don’t have enough pieces around their respective teams to even guarantee making this year’s playoffs.

Whether it’s the lack of consistent goaltending or D as is the case with both Tampa Bay and Atlanta, they’re probably on the fringe as far as making the cut in the ultracompetitive East.

Maybe you never viewed these two different sports in this context. But it just goes to show you that LeBron appreciates how special a player Crosby is and can learn from him.

Now that rocks!

Ovechkin’s first career four-goal game

Take a look at the highlights to tonight’s game, currently available in the “Last Game” section of the Devils website.

What you’ll see is the Thrashers local broadcast and what you’ll notice, other than Red Bulls play-by-play man JP Delacamera going to the lowest-common-denominator of homerism, is that it really is quite dark-looking in that arena.

Could that have had something to do with the goaltending tonight?

Wow, what a cringeworthy game. But a large, large, large win.

Marty only stops 10 of 15, but the Devils win 6-5, as the Thrashers were much more inept than New Jersey. The Thrashers spent more than 30 Minutes of this game without shooting the puck.

Madden, Elias, Pando, Zajac, Sarge (!), and Patrick Elias once more, on a blistering one-timer on the power play. Remember when, during the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Rangers, they would show those videos of Patrick moving all around the ice during the playoffs in fast motion? It looked like a return to that, and a welcome one at that.

The offense carried the Devils tonight. Hang on, let me hand Satan my soul before I go on. The defense, and particularly Marty, were atrocious tonight. There is no way around it, Marty has to bounce back, and he no doubt will, because he is the best.

Hero of the Night: PATRICK ELIAS (!), 2 Goals, Assist, Game Winner, Return to Awesomeness
Bum of the Night: Marty Brodeur. Sorry Marty, the way this team plays, 10 out of 15 won’t do it.
Asshole of the Night: Garnet Exelby for that dirty takedown of Zach Parise.

Around the League Tonight:

The Sabres are officially back. They beat the Capitals 7-3, two straight by a count of 13-3. Jaroslav Spacek scored twice, and Brian Campbell had 4 assists. Alex Ovechkin added his 3rd of the year in defeat.

Crosby nets two on Hockey Night in Canada and the Penguins beat the Leafs, 6-4. Maxime Talbot added a pair.

The Hurricanes are off to a very good start, as Carolina continues their roll in Montreal, winning 3-1 at Bell Centre. Matt Cullen scored the Game-Winner. Carolina’s now 4-1-1.

Ottawa took down the Rangers, 3-1. Dany Heatley scored his 6th of the year, and Jaromir Jagr finally got #1 in the losing effort. Both NJ and NYR are 2-3-0 on the year.

Six different scorers led the Florida Panthers to their 2nd straight victory, as they dismantled the Lightning, 6-4. Vinny Prospal scored twice in defeat.

8 Different goal-scorers in the Music City, as Calgary and the Preds are tied at 4 after two frames.

Dallas leads Chicago 1-0 in the 2nd because of the work of Brendan Morrow.

Super Joe Sakic gave the Avs an early lead at home vs. Columbus.