Here we go again.

Game 2 is mere hours away and the rock that was settling in the pit of my stomach has returned. A Devils/Rangers series will always do a number on one’s insides, but when you’re down in the series, it’s even rougher.

So, for the sake of your fans’ physical health, I implore of the Devils: win tonight. Please? A win makes this series a best-of-five, and that I can handle. I don’t think my stomach, heart, or spleen can handle the pressure of being down 2-0. What can I say, my spleen gets very emotionally involved in the game sometimes.

Winning tonight shouldn’t be that big of an issue. The boys put some quality shots are Henrik Lundqvist in Game 1, catching iron three separate times and scoring their lone goal. They know they can beat Lundy, they just need to tweak their accuracy. Oh dear God how they need to tweak their accuracy. I trust that that’s something that can take place, but ask me again after tonight’s game.

On the defensive end, as much as it disgusts me to say it, it’s absolutely imperative that they shut down Scott Gomez. The Red ‘n Black gave Gomez far too much room to operate in Game 1 and made his life far too easy, thus the three assists. The Clarkson/Zubrus/Rupp line did an effective job of shutting down the Jagr line; it’s up to Pandolfo/Madden/Gionta to step it up against the Gomez line.

In goal, let’s just get it over with. Marty made a huge mistake last game. What of it? I’m willing to grant him one big blunder in exchange for a year of ridiculous-even-by-his-standards play in front of a patchwork D that sports Mike Mottau as a top four guy. It was shocking because it was Marty and because it happens so rarely. You won’t see it again. Save for not covering the puck (or playing it too slowly) on the Callahan goal, Marty was stellar once again Wednesday night, and I expect he will continue to be this evening.

I really truly believe that if the Devils play the way they did in Game 1 - while not allowing Henrik to psych them into shooting wide every other play - the boys can win this game and ultimately this series. The key, however, is continuing to play that way.

Please make it so.