An epic scene at Yankee Stadium for Part I of the Stadium Series between Hudson rivals New Jersey and New York.
All photos credited to Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

On one of the biggest stages, the Battle Of Hudson was renewed at Yankee Stadium for the first part of the Stadium Series. They had a tough act to follow with the Ducks and Kings putting on a good show at Dodger Stadium with legendary broadcaster Vin Scully introducing the teams with Kings great play by play man Bob Miller. They got the game’s Greatest, Wayne Gretzky and Kiss, who really was an odd fit in Hollywood. Detroit Rock City?!?!?!?!?! 😛

A Devil fan takes in the scene at Yankee Stadium.
Photos by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

Yesterday, it was the Rangers and Devils turn. Even if I missed the entire show due to work priorities in search of a new car, I had the marquee event covered with plenty of text updates from the Rangers and Twitter with tweets from all hockey fans. It made my shift that much more fun. Just seeing part of Saturday’s team practices along with pre-game interviews was plenty. Then you had amazing photos of a hockey spectacle at the ballpark in the Bronx. Even if it’s not the original Stadium, this was a sight to behold. When you have players, coaches, broadcasters and even trainers raving about it, you realize the magnitude of such an event. Full props to all the entire crew who worked so hard to put it together. Those are the true heroes that made it possible. And of course, the fans who came out in droves despite icy cold conditions that even included a 30-minute delay and awe inspiring snow.

At least for one side, the pretty white stuff worked like a charm. Despite being the “road team” in a New York venue where from all indications there were more red and black represented, the Rangers stormed back to take Part I of the Stadium Series 7-3 over the Devils before a record 50,105. Just chatting with friends on Facebook and Twitter who went was enough to put a smile on my face. Of course, it helped to hear all the crazy goal texts during a second period explosion that saw the Rangers light up Martin Brodeur for four goals on 11 shots. When it concluded, that ended the 40-year old legend’s day. He was chased after giving up six and admitted that the conditions weren’t the best. If he doesn’t have my sympathy, it’s because for such a great player he comes off very bitter. No disrespect Marty. But the ice was the same for everyone including our winning netminder Henrik Lundqvist, who took special joy in coming out on top. You know how much it meant to him personally. There’s no love lost between them. That’s on Brodeur, who time and again always makes excuses whenever he loses to our side. Enough already. It was a once in a lifetime event. The least you can do is show class like the rest of your teammates.

Putting Brodeur’s sore feelings aside, it was a wild and unpredictable game. Two of the NHL’s lowest scoring teams combined for 10 goals. At one point, the Devils led 3-1 before they collapsed. It was classic pond hockey. Early in, Ryane Clowe sprung Patrik Elias, who beat Lundqvist stick side for the first of two goals. Elias has always been my favorite Devil because he plays the game the right way and doesn’t say anything controversial. If someone scored two for the Devs, I’m glad it was him. I would’ve settled for his Czech mate Jaromir Jagr too. As for Clowe, he’s played his best hockey since returning. Nice to see him back healthy.

Jaromir Jagr carries the puck during at Yankee Stadium.
Photos by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

It only took a few minutes for the Rangers to respond getting it from an unlikely source in Dominic Moore. Able to get to a Anton Stralman rebound off Eric Gelinas in front, he steered home his fourth. The fourth line has chipped in since Alain Vigneault put Dan Carcillo with Moore and Brian Boyle. That strength along with the power play are the most notable differences from last year. Oddly enough, all seven goals came at even strength. The lone power play goal came off the hot stick of Elias. With Jagr carrying the puck through the zone, he drew all four Blueshirts before making a sweet dish in front for Elias (ninth). Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi both got victimized on a day where defense was left in the dugouts. Jagr made another good play for the Devils’ third of the period, passing for Travis Zajac who buried his eighth at 16:07. What else would you expect from number 68? But before they could hold a two-goal lead, Marc Staal’s point shot snuck through Brodeur 52 seconds later for a momentum changer.

Ranger goal scorer Carl Hagelin is congratulated by Marc Staal during the second period at Yankee Stadium.
Photos by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

The real damage came in a dominant second where the Rangers’ transition game took full advantage of some favorable bounces and Devil mistakes. Mats Zuccarello was able to score the first of two when John Moore’s pass hopped right to him at 2:48 evening the score. Nearly 10 minutes later, he was the beneficiary of a nice cross-ice feed from Derick Brassard burying his 15th. The play started due to a bad pinch by Gelinas. Caught on the play by Benoit Pouliot, it allowed an odd-man rush which resulted in the eventual winner. Over two minutes later, Carl Hagelin’s innocent looking turnaround shot deflected past Brodeur increasing the Ranger lead to 5-3. His hustle allowed him to beat out an icing and record his 12th. Stralman started the play with a clean hit that forced a turnover. He had two assists and was an unsung hero. If they had any hopes of a comeback, the Devils needed to get out of the second down two. Instead, Rick Nash came in on another odd-man break and his centering feed banked past Brodeur for his team-leading 18th. I guess when you’re hot, you’re hot.

”They changed their game in the second period,” Jagr said. ”They were flying into our zone, and we didn’t react to it.”

With his team trailing by a field goal, Pete DeBoer had no choice but to pull Brodeur and insert number one goalie Cory Schneider. The former Canuck who Lou Lamoriello acquired at last summer’s draft has been nothing short of sensational winning five of his last eight starts posting a 0.96 GAA and .961 save percentage. He understood why Brodeur got the start. Ironically, it was his 100th versus the Rangers. Considering the special significance with it possibly his final year, one gets why he played. Though you have to wonder what Hasan and other Devil fans were thinking during the fateful second. By the time Schneider entered, it was too late. He only faced five shots in the third and stopped four.

Derek Stepan goes one on one with Corey Schneider and scores on a penalty shot at Yankee Stadium.
Photos by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

The one Schneider allowed was on a penalty shot. Since teaming with Nash and Calder hopeful Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan has had a resurgence. He came in on a four-game point streak (2-4-6). In order for the team to have any success in the second half and beyond, they need their top center to play like one. Lately, Stepan has found his groove. That trend continued when he stripped Zajac and broke in on Schneider forcing the Devils’ two-way center to take him down. It was a clear cut penalty shot which he earned. Making the script even better, Stepan went one on one with a hot goalie and fired a perfect laser stick side for his 10th. It was an exclamation point on a memorable weekend for the NHL.

”Within 16 hours, two of the most-revered venues in sports welcomed more than 100,000 fans to sit under the sky and enjoy two of the fiercest rivalries in the National Hockey League,” league commissioner Gary Bettman praised. “The games were spectacular, the images were unforgettable, and the sheer energy our sport creates was unmistakable.”

Stadium Notes: A dozen different Rangers recorded a point. Six players had two points including Brassard (2 A), Dom Moore (1-1-2), Staal (1-1-2), Stepan (1-1-2), Stralman (2 A) and Zuccarello (2 G). The D pairing of Staal and Stralman combined for four points and a plus-eight rating. … The Rangers won the faceoff battle 37-29 highlighted by Brad Richards, who won 12 of 18. Zajac was the Devils’ best going 12 of 19. … Six different Devils hit the score sheet. Both Elias (2 G) and Jagr (2 A) each finished with two points. Clowe (A), Mark Fayne (A), Marek Zidlicky (A) and Zajac (G) each had a point. … Rangers increased their lead to four over the Devils. With 59 points, they remain second in the Metro three ahead of Columbus and Philadelphia. The Devils and Hurricanes each trail by four and the Caps are five out. The Islanders are nine back with 28 games left. … The second installment of the Stadium Series is Wednesday at 7:30 PM. Freezing temps are expected that could be below 10 degrees.

BONY 3 STARS:

3rd Star-Derek Stepan, NYR (penalty shot goal-10th, assist, +2 in 16:07-8 points in last 5)

2nd Star-Stralman/Staal, NYR (1-3-4, +8-stand out performances from underrated second pair)

1st Star-Mats Zuccarello, NYR (2 goals-14, 15, +2 in 17:46-Mr. Clutch)