5:48 PM ET: Damn did we ever need that win.  I would’ve liked it to end about 45 minutes earlier, but you can’t beat that drama.  This series is setting up to be one for the ages. Devils with the home ice advantage will take on the Rangers starting later this week.  I can’t wait. Keep it here for post-game commentary, playoff preview action and of course, hilarious graphics featuring Sean Avery and Scott Gomez.  Til then, have a good night!

5:47 PM ET: Zach Parise and Patrick Elias: Clutchest players on Earth.

5:45 PM ET: Rangers stopped and Elias scores!!! Top shelf right over the shoulder of Lundqvist! Devils win! Devils win! Patricia is saved! Wooo!!!!! The streak is broken!

5:44 PM ET: Gomez scores. but Parise answers right back!!!!

5:43 PM ET: Lundqvist stones Langenbrunner. Scotty Gomez will have the 3rd and perhaps final shot on Brodeur.

5:43 PM ET: Brodeur stops the Devils-killer Nigel Dawes!

5:42 PM ET: Shanahan stopped. Gionta shanks it high.

5:41 PM ET: Shanahan will start for the Rangers, Gio for the Devils.

5:39 PM ET: Now Clarkson is getting in on what must be a fierce round of yo mamma jokes. The refs, who are standing in between, are just sitting there and almost look like they’re judging. Screw the shootout, insult contest!

5:39 PM ET: Gah!!! The Devils pile on the pressure for the last 30 seconds but cant put it home. Madden and Avery are jawing at each other on the bench as we head to a shootout.

5:37 PM ET: Pando breaks in and gets a shot on Lundqvist which is stopped, but he draws a penalty in the process. I heart Pando and Madden. They’ve been awesome today.

5:36 PM ET: The Devils once again controlled the puck, but couldn’t get a shot on net. Boo.

5:35 PM ET: 48 seconds to go in the powerplay for the Devils, which has once again looked like poop.

5:33 PM ET: Devils kill off the remainder of the penalty and the Devils draw an interference call! Powerplay for New Jersey! Come on guys!

5:32 PM ET: Oh yeah, and Patricia will totally have to wear a Rangers jersey for the first week of the playoffs. If that’s not an insta-jinx, I don’t know what is.

5:30 PM ET: It may seem marginal, but the Devils need the win here in my mind. There’s a big pride and momentum issue here; I don’t think anyone wants to lose 8 straight to a team headed into the playoffs

5:29 PM ET: Drury wins it clean, but there’s no one there and it goes all the way back to the Rangers zone. We’re headed to OT, which means the Devils have secured home ice for the playoffs.

5:28 PM ET: Elias to take the draw in the Devils zone. Drury for the Rangers.

5:27 PM ET: Brodeur stops play with 7.5 to go. Yikes!

5:25 PM ET: Jeeeeeeesus. Penalty on Madden with just under 30 to go. Rangers look like they’re gonna go with the 6-on-4 for the final 28 seconds of the game.

5:25 PM ET: Empty net, 30 to go.

5:23 PM ET: Two minutes to play and we could see Lundqvist head to the bench soon for the extra attacker. Remember, the Rangers need a regulation win to secure home ice for the playoffs.

5:21 PM ET: Parise with another great chance but shanks it wide! Great powerplay by the Devils but Lundqvist was superhuman for most of it. Still a tie game.

5:19 PM ET: Parise has a wide open net on a rebound, knocks a good shot on net but is absolutely robbed by Lundqvist. Parise can’t believe it and neither can I.

5:16 PM ET: Clarkson draws a holding call with just over 5 to play in the third and we’ve got a powerplay. He nearly breaks in with a great chance, but instead takes a cartoonish fall that only David Clarkson could pull off. Powerplay coming up!

5:14 PM ET: Not a lot of action here. It’s a chess game now, each team waiting for the other to make a mistake.

5:09 PM ET: Zubrus is back but gets blasted by Marc Staal shortly after taking the ice. He seems alright but boy is he gonna be aching tomorrow.

5:04 PM ET: Penalties cancel, even strength hockey.

5:01 PM ET: Whoa! a 5-on-5 fight breaks out behind Lundqvist after a flurry of Devils shots! That’s what I’m talking about! It looked more like a rugby scrum than a boxing match, but its something.

5:00 PM ET: There hasn’t been much fire to the Devil’s play since the first and the Rangers are pouncing on it. They’ve really got to turn it up if they want the W today.

4:57 PM ET: @#($)$^%! Zubrus gets clocked in a collision and is slow to get up and not more than 30 seconds later Jagr is left wide open in front for the goal. Tie game 2-2.

4:54 PM ET: Back in action for the third.

4:35 PM ET: That’s it for the second. We’ve still got the lead but the Devils have got to turn it up for the third if they hope to keep it. 2-1 New Jersey after 2.

4:30 PM ET: Madden with the hustle-of-the-year just flies down the ice and smacks a loose puck in on Lundqvist. Close but no cigar as Lundqvist just barely gets it with his shoulder.

4:27 PM ET: Clarkson is out of the box but the Rangers are putting on a lot of pressure in the Devils zone. Marty makes a couple of solid saves and the Devils are able to get it out for an icing. Wow, Madden and Pando good on the PK? Marty solid in net? I’m really revelatory here today.

4:25 PM ET: Madden and Pando break in for a 2-on-1 but Pandolfo shanks the shot. These guys have been amazing on the PK lately (what else is new), but can we get them on some lessons in performing under pressure? They haven’t converted on one of these short-handed odd man rushes yet, and they get like 4 a game!

4:23 PM ET: Clarkson takes a slashing call and the Devils are on their first PK of the game.

4:21 PM ET: Jagr took a little swipe at Colin White there. Considering the last time I saw him take a swing at a Devil he dislocated his shoulder during the first round of the playoffs a few years back, I for one say by all means break out the boxing gloves.

4:18 PM ET: A scrap breaks out after Brodeur stops Shanahan from the point. Despite the fact that the Rangers have been playing better, that was just their 7th shot overall.

4:17 PM ET: Langenbrunner is back on the bench and is A-Ok. whew.

4:12 PM ET: Parise snatches a clearing attempt by Lundqvist clear out of the air but can’t get it on net in time to catch him out of position. The Rangers momentum appears to have subsided for the moment. Langenbrunner is apparently not on the bench, but word is the equipment guy isn’t either. Fingers crossed.

4:08 PM ET: Dawes nearly breaks free again (this time with stick in hand), but fortunately gets stuffed by Oduya at the last second. What’s the deal with this guy?!

4:05 PM ET: Nigel Dawes gives his best effort in trying to recreate his shoulder goal from last time around chasing down a loose puck with no stick. Devils still looking like they took a pile of Xanex between periods.

4:02 PM ET: The momentum has swung in the Rangers direction early in the second. They’re putting a lot of pressure on and seem to be far more in sync so far.

3:59 PM ET: So uh, we’re back, but evidently no one told the Devils. Nigel Dawes sets up Chris Drury who slams one past Marty just 19 seconds in. 2-1 New Jersey.

3:41 PM ET: That’s it for the first period and minus their powerplay poopyness, you couldn’t really ask for a much better period. I won’t say Patricia is breathing easier since she has Bronchitis, but things so far are looking up for her Rangers jersey bet so far. Devils outshoot the Rangers 11-2 in the period, but keep in mind, our boys are yet to really play a full game against these guys and the record thus far reflects that, so let’s hope they keep it up. Back in a bit.

3:37 PM ET: Pretty crap powerplay by the Devils, which Gionta put an exclamation point on by having what appeared to be a large hunk of toilet paper hanging off the back of his pants.

3:35 PM ET: Devils Powerplay! I totally missed what it was, but evidently Martin Straka took a holding call. No matter though, we’ve got another man advantage.

3:33 PM ET: Martin shanks a one-timer on a 4-on-2 rush by the Devils. The pressure continues with about five to play at the Rock in the first period.

3:27 PM ET: And we’ve got another Devils goal! Rupp fires one that catches Henrik off guard and it’s a 2-0 Devils lead. Looked like Lundqvist was expecting a pass to Clarkson, who was breaking in on the opposite side. Have we named this line yet? Cos they’re proving to be pretty awesome.

3:23 PM ET: Lundqvist is really holding the Rangers up here. Devils are putting tremendous pressure on him and he’s coming up with a number of big saves. Charging penalty on the Rangers! Devils PP coming up!

3:20 PM ET: Madden, Pando and Gio break in on a 3-on-2 but Pandolfo just can’t get a handle on the puck with a wide open shot on King Henrik. Good back check by the Rangers.

3:20 PM ET: The Devils have come out with a lot of energy to start this one, but are also playing with a very calmed confidence. They’re not overdoing it or making a lot of mistakes. Its still early but a good sign nonetheless.

3:16 PM ET: Woo! Brodeur stuffs Jagr and Vishnevski just blasts a blueshirt for the second or third time in the game. Way to show up guys!

3:15 PM ET: Madden scores! A gritty hard-nosed goal as he pushes in a a rebound try for his 20th of the season. 1-0 baby!

3:13 PM ET: Parise gets a nice little takeaway but gets stuffed by Marc Staal inside the blueline. Elias rips one in on Lundqvist but he makes the glove save.

3:12 PM ET: Energetic start to the game here, although there have been a lot of stops and not a lot of shots. But everyone’s skating really well!

3:07 PM ET: And we’re underway! And what’s that? I can actually hear the crowd at the Rock! A miracle! Let’s get em boys!

3:02 PM ET: Last game of the season and a home-ice decider and we get Steve Cangialosi?! Come on! Doc better not be doing a freakin’ Pirates game today.

2:54 PM ET: Well as a bit of a primer for this one, I’m pumped. I really didn’t (as I’m sure many of you didn’t) want to get the Rangers for the playoffs, but now that it’s settled in I’m excited. I think it’ll be a great series, SO LONG AS we get this losing streak against these guys out of our system.

2:53 PM ET: Ok so it’s been 20 minutes and I’m a total failure as a graphics guy, so you guys will just have to do without once again. Sorry. BUT, the incredible imagery I paint with my live-capping skills should be enough right? right?!

2:33 PM ET: Hey all, getting started in a little because I’m testing out the graphic insertion lesson I just got from Professor Josh. So uh.. if I turn the site into an advertisement for Head-On or something, just check back in a few minutes I should (that’s a big should) be able to turn it back in no time.

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