When yesterday’s first installment of the Coors Light Stadium Series at Yankee Stadium was over, you had two opposite number 30’s of a unique Hudson rivalry giving different assessments of the frigid conditions. Make no mistake about it. The ice wasn’t ideal for either side. There was no distinct advantage for the Rangers or Devils. A half hour delay probably didn’t help.

If there’s one thing you can take away from the Rangers’ 7-3 victory over the Devils, it was the reaction of both goalies. Whenever Henrik Lundqvist is matched up against Martin Brodeur, it’s a scintillating game that increases ratings. While fans of either side are separated by their allegiances to each, the hockey world stops to watch. Especially given the nature of the event. Lundqvist doesn’t have his adversary’s resume. At age 41, Brodeur has three Stanley Cups, four Vezinas and has won two of three Battle Of Hudson playoff series including an exciting 2012 Conference Final that avenged his worst loss in 1994. It doesn’t get much better for the future Hall Of Famer.

Lundqvist has also accomplished plenty in his nine-year NHL career. Since coming over from Frolunda, the 31-year old Swede has a Vezina, Olympic gold medal and is closing in on Rangers franchise records for wins and shutouts. With 294 victories, he’s seven shy of matching Mike Richter and his 48 shutouts trail Ed Giacomin by one. Barring a setback, the likeable Rangers goalie will become number one in both categories this year. Signed to a record extension that makes him the highest paid backstop in the sport, the pressure is immense. It’s no secret that the franchise has been jinxed since winning their fourth Cup 20 years ago. Boasting one of the league’s best in net gives them a puncher’s chance of winning another. They were close two years ago but didn’t get it done.

The thing that separates Hank from Marty is his class. To quote one of my favorite lines from Trading Places, “Class is not something you buy.” There’s no doubt that both netminders struggled yesterday with the elements. It was a mental battle. The way each handled it was different. Of course, you can argue the same for their respective teams. The Devils got off to a fast start scoring three of the game’s first four goals. Patrik Elias beat Lundqvist twice and Travis Zajac took advantage of an pick play by his teammate.

”I was half asleep, mentally somewhere else, but then I regrouped and I am happy with how I finished,” Lundqvist later admitted.

”I’m not going to lie, when they scored the third one, I had a bad feeling about it. My first thought was, ‘Am I going to be able to finish this game? Then you kind of regroup and tell yourself, ‘I need to stop the next shot. That’s it. There is no other way to do this.”’

One thing about Hank that makes him human is his ability to be truthful. In what’s been his most challenging season, he’s 18-18-3 with a 2.54 goals-against-average (GAA) and .914 save percentage. Hardly the numbers we’re used to seeing from a man called the King. Even after signing his megadeal, he wasn’t the same player. Alain Vigneault was able to keep the team afloat thanks to the stellar play of rookie Cam Talbot. Without his 10 wins, who knows where they’d be? Eventually, the former Canucks bench boss was able to work Lundqvist back in full time when the calendar year changed. He’s found his form and settled in. What is most admirable is his admission that he didn’t feel good about his game. Most stars of that magnitude come up with excuses. Not Henrik.

On the flip side, you have Brodeur. Arguably the greatest goalie to ever play boasting unbreakable records, he has had a brilliant career spanning 20 years. Astonishingly, Marty’s been durable throughout with only a couple of injuries in recent years showing that even the best can break down. It’s been an up and down season for the Devils’ backbone. Following yesterday’s performance in which he allowed six goals on 21 shots in a rare appearance due to the play of Cory Schneider, Brodeur is 13-11-4 with a 2.52 GAA and .899 save percentage. He’s not used to this. Unfortunately, Schneider’s time has come which could finally spell the end for Marty. He’s hinted that he might want to continue his career elsewhere. It would be odd to see him in any other jersey. Boasting 682 wins, the all-time great could reach 700.

If there is a flaw, it’s his egotistical nature to deflect losses. Nobody hates the Rangers more. Part of it is he plays for a franchise that doesn’t get the notoriety despite having more success. Since Brodeur entered the league, the Devils boast three Cups and five Finals appearances. You can make an argument that his best accomplishment was outdueling Lundqvist at 40 to get New Jersey to its first SCF since winning their third championship in 2003. He has tremendous pride. Sometimes, he doesn’t always say the right thing. For example, before the season making an underhanded remark about Lundqvist’s goalie pads. A cheap shot. Predictably, Hank had no response. Then you have his postgame reaction yesterday.

”You rely a lot on instinct, and poise, and I couldn’t close my glove, it was so cold,” Brodeur said referencing the ice as the worst he’s ever played on.

”Most of their goals went in off our players, or a stick or skate, and that happens. It was just one of those nights.”

He even mentioned that he couldn’t catch pucks which might explain how Marc Staal’s routine shot eluded him. It still came off wrong. Like sour grapes from one of the game’s best. Excuse me for stating the facts. The ice was bad for both sides. As goal scorer Dominic Moore said, the Rangers adapted. That’s what you must do when such a marquee event in cold and snowy conditions takes place. You didn’t hear Pete DeBoer complain much afterwards. He sarcastically joked that the snow threw his team off. But he raved about being part of it calling it one of the best experiences he’s ever had. That’s the appeal.

It’s about keeping perspective. This wasn’t a heated series. Of course, valuable points were up for grabs. Had the Devils won in regulation, they would’ve tied the Rangers in points and vaulted over three teams into second. Maybe the oddest moment was seeing the two teams shake hands. Something the Ducks and Kings avoided following Anaheim’s second straight win over LA in the signature game at Dodger Stadium. The hatred is more intense. There’s much more of a chance those bitter Western rivals meet this Spring. A warm thought for us East coasters with another once in a lifetime event, the Super Bowl coming this Sunday at Met Life Stadium. For New York and New Jersey, this is a special week. One that should be remembered and cherished.