RANGERS NOW PUT TO SWEEP

[Rock]

RANGERS NOW PUT TO SWEEP

http://www.nypost.com/sports/devils/63075.htm

DEVILS FINISH OFF BLUESHIRTS

By MARK (N)Єverson

April 30, 2006 -- GAME 4 Devils 4 Rangers 2

This wasn't just rivalry revenge, it was the Devils' emphatic exorcism of their final demon. This stunning shellacking, their conquest of unconquered territory, launches them toward the richer realms where they've been before.

The chants of "Matteau, Matteau" and the chronicles of three previous failures against the Rangers are now consigned to the scrapbook and scrapheap. If the Rangers and all the rivalry's edge-leveling emotion and history couldn't stop these Devils, or even produce one victory, a long spring looms in New Jersey.

No champagne was sighted inside the Devils locker room, just some energy froth in paper cups. The Devils refused to proclaim "Mission Accomplished" after sweeping the Rangers yesterday.

"Nice, but it's part of the process. We'll enjoy it couple of hours, but we want the Stanley Cup. That's the goal," Scott Gomez said after yesterday's 4-2 clincher at the Garden completed a 17-4 aggregate demolition of the Rangers, the Devils' most dominant series ever.

Sweeps are usually only accomplished by teams going somewhere. The 1995 and 2000 Devils, the franchise's only other sweepers, both won the Cup.

"It takes a special team, especially in a big rivalry series like this. And you need special people to get through it," said Martin Brodeur, who tied Billy Smith and Ed Belfour for third place all-time with his 88th postseason victory.

Since 1988, the only times the Devils have survived the first round and not gone to the finals, they've been eliminated by the Rangers - in 1992, 1994 and 1997. They took care of both possibilities this year.

And they put an end to taunts that despite their three Cups, they'd never beaten the Blueshirts.

"Everybody was on a mission to beat the Rangers," Brodeur said. "Anyone who says it isn't sweet shouldn't be in this room.

"I have a lot of history against those guys. I felt right away (1992) how important it was for our organization. Then we lose in double-OT (1994), they win the Stanley Cup and you shake your head. Another time (1997), you're playing Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Mike Richter, and you're shaking your head."

This time, the Rangers' heads were spinning at how quickly and decisively they were dispatched.

"Give credit to a good hockey club. They're well organized and they certainly believe in what they are all about and they have success with it," Tom Renney said after his Rangers' ninth straight loss to spoil a previously-shining season.

"The last couple games before the playoffs, we started to feel a little insecure about ourselves," Henrik Lundqvist said.

The Devils entered the playoffs in opposite fashion, with an NHL-record season-ending streak of 11 wins. Yesterday's victory tied them for the league mark of 15 straight triumphs bridging the regular season and playoffs.

If Ottawa ousts Tampa, the Devils will face either Carolina on the road, or the winner of Buffalo-Philly at home next weekend.

The Rangers put up a fight yesterday, even after Jaromir Jagr left the series for good 53 seconds in, reinjuring his left shoulder by falling into the boards on a routine hit by Brad Lukowich. The Rangers took their first and last lead of the series on Jed Ortmeyer's rebound with 18.6 seconds left in the first. But goals by Gomez, Patrik Elias, Brian Gionta and Elias again followed, as did the off-season for the Rangers.

[LizDevil30]

Since 1988, the only times the Devils have survived the first round and not gone to the finals, they've been eliminated by the Rangers - in 1992, 1994 and 1997. They took care of both possibilities this year.

What about the "have another donut" season? What round was that?

[Rock]

Since 1988, the only times the Devils have survived the first round and not gone to the finals, they've been eliminated by the Rangers - in 1992, 1994 and 1997. They took care of both possibilities this year.

What about the "have another donut" season? What round was that?

1988 3rd round.

[LizDevil30]

Thanks that's what I thought.

[StarDew]

This wasn't just rivalry revenge, it was the Devils' emphatic exorcism of their final demon. This stunning shellacking, their conquest of unconquered territory, launches them toward the richer realms where they've been before

Now if that isn't a signature then nothing is

[NYIslandersFan]

For the Devils fans who don't live in NY(myself, I live on Long Island) this is the angriest I have seen Rangers fans since the Islanders used to have their way with the Blueskirts back in the early 80's. I haven't heard back from 1 Rangers fan I know, and they have been calling me all season long telling me how "this was the year," and so on and so forth. Now it's as quiet as a mouse pissing on cotton where it concerns their collective mouths. I can't wait to go to work tomorrow and hear all of the excuses, I am sure they took all of their frustrations out today(or atleast tried) so they could deal with the crap they are going to have to take later on today.

As an Islanders fan and bystandard in all of this, I have to say thank you. Because all season long they have been the biggest bandwagon, smack talking fans since the Yankees. But with this devastating loss, they all up and vanished like a fart in the wind and I thank the Devils for that.

Thanks New Jersey!!

[Satans Hockey]

As an Islanders fan and bystandard in all of this, I have to say thank you. Because all season long they have been the biggest bandwagon, smack talking fans since the Yankees. But with this devastating loss, they all up and vanished like a fart in the wind and I thank the Devils for that.

Thanks New Jersey!!

Kinda like all those Islanders fans who had vanished for the 7 years the team didn't make the playoffs but than all ran out of the woodworks and jumped on the bandwagon in 2002 when they made the playoffs but hey thanks for Lukowich!

Edited May 1, 2006 by Satans Child