Battle Of Hudson

Devil star Ilya Kovalchuk believes if his team plays up to par, they’ll be tough to beat this postseason.

It’s not often a star player speaks up before the playoffs. But that’s exactly what Devil superstar Ilya Kovalchuk did yesterday when discussing his team’s chances with Post writer Mark Everson. In his second season, the electrifying Russian forward paced the Devils with 37 goals and 83 points- helping lead them back to the postseason after missing last year.

“If we play our best, nobody can beat us,” Kovalchuk told Everson as New Jersey prepares to play third seeded Southeast winner Florida with the series not getting underway until Friday. This will only be the former 2001 first overall pick’s third playoff year with the prior two far from memorable. In ’07, a Kovalchuk-led Atlanta club were swept by the Rangers. Three years later, he was dealt to the Devils who were ousted by Turnpike rival Philadelphia in five games. 

“I wasn’t successful at all during my career. It’s not enough for me,” Kovalchuk pointed out. “Everybody wants to be a winner.”

Despite being seeded sixth, the Devils enter red hot having won six straight. They boast five players who scored at least 20 with Kovalchuk, captain Zach Parise (31) and David Clarkson hitting 30-or-more. They finished with more points than the Panthers, who are making their first postseason appearance since 2000 when the eventual Cup champion Devils swept them in the same round. The Devils have enough experience to be the favorite despite not starting the series at home.

There will be two subplots with former Panther coach Pete DeBoer facing the squad that fired him. The other involves ex-Devil backup goalie Scott Clemmensen, who likely will get the call in net to go up against future Hall Of Famer Martin Brodeur. Another twist is former Cup hero John Madden facing off against the team he helped win two Cups.

Florida hosts the first two games on Friday and Sunday night before the series shifts to Newark starting the following Tuesday.

Ranger captain Ryan Callahan will be seeing a lot of Erik Karlsson and the Senators in the first round series which starts Thursday at Madison Square Garden.

Entering this season, the Rangers had higher expectations. Though nobody would’ve envisioned our team leading the East from late December on to finish with the top record, they overcame injuries and underachievers to finish with 109 points. Their most since ’93-94 when some curse was lifted. Ironically, at least part of the path could be similar if they run into the Devils in the second round. Otherwise, despite the top seed, it likely runs through the Bruins and Pens, who we had issues with.

PRESSURE: There will no doubt be increased pressure on John Tortorella and Henrik Lundqvist to deliver the club’s first series win since ’08 over New Jersey. If last year, nobody was more scrutinized than Roberto Luongo, then the same holds true for Lundqvist, who established new career marks in wins (39), goals-against-average (1.97) and save percentage (.930). This is his seventh year (sixth postseason). At 30, King Henrik needs to have a big playoffs for this team to succeed. He’ll be vying for his first Vezina but most importantly, will try to shed the label as a postseason disappointment. Albeit the teams he had before wasn’t as strong. Lundqvist slumped down the stretch and will need to reestablish himself quickly against a dangerous opponent in Ottawa that had success against us, winning three of four during the season series.

FORWARDS: The Blueshirts were led by Marian Gaborik, who bounced back with 41 goals and 76 points to pace our team. Gabby showed a penchant for getting the uniform dirty and scored more on the road. He also was clutch putting our team ahead a lot. He’ll team with Brad Richards (25-41-66), who finished strong after struggling to find chemistry. Richie was brought in for this situation with the former Conn Smythe winner having valuable experience. He’ll get support from heart and soul captain Ryan Callahan (career high 29 goals, 13 PPG), who leads by example. He hates losing just as much as Lundqvist and has taken the mantle. Much of the team’s aspirations depends on pups Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin with both key components. They didn’t finish strong but must pick it up. A positive is the play of Brian Boyle, who rediscovered his scoring touch and also takes big draws while providing energy on the penalty kill. He’ll work with Brandon Dubinsky and Ruslan Fedotenko while Tortorella will start with a crash fourth line of Mike Rupp, John Mitchell and Brandon Prust. How Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and Stepan perform could be the key. If Chris Kreider gets signed, he could see limited duty.

The Senators boast an explosive unit that’s led by Jason Spezza (34 goals, 84 points). He is the best forward in the series and also has the top defenseman in Erik Karlsson, whose whopping 78 points (19-59-78) make Ottawa extremely potent. It’s not just Spezza up front with Milan Michalek (career best 35 markers) finishing around the net and vet Daniel Alfredsson always a threat. Kyle Turris played well for the Sens after being acquired from Phoenix and lit the lamp twice in our last meeting. He’ll have the pressure of helping support the top line, which is sure to get plenty of attention from our D. How Turris and young guns Colin Greening, Zach Smith and Erik Condra play could determine the outcome. Toss in agitator Nick Foligno and pest Chris Neil and Ottawa shouldn’t be any picnic. Whichever team provides more secondary scoring should prevail.

Edge: Even

DEFENSE: Few D tandems were better at limiting opposing scoring lines than Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi. There’s nothing they won’t do to help the Blueshirts win. If it means blocking shots, both will sacrifice the body. Each can take the body if needed but are solid positionally. Particularly McDonagh, whose anticipation is off the charts for a second-year player. Will he slow down in the playoffs? Tortorella has the luxury of using Marc Staal with Anton Stralman on the third pair while Mike Del Zotto works with feisty Stu Bickel, who brings edge. Del Zotto paced our blueline with 41 points (10-31-41). He still doesn’t shoot enough but is great at finding the open man backdoor. He must pick his spots in this series due to the Sens’ countering style. It should be noted that McDonagh had 32 points and Girardi contributed 29. So, we’re not just a one trick pony. But defense is the focus as they’ll try to slow down the Sens, turning it into a physical match up.

Ottawa is led by Karlsson, who can do it all. Possessing a potent shot, unbelievable playmaking skills and great skating, he is the Sens’ most important player because he’s a game changer. Despite 19 goals, he only scored three on the power play. The Ranger focus will be on limiting time and space. Knowing where he is at all times along with Spezza, particularly on the man-advantage is a must. Karlsson can rely on vet Sergei Gonchar who returned healthy playing in 74 games while tallying 37 points (32 helpers). He’s been around forever. So, the Rangers will try to be physical with him. Filip Kuba is another experienced D you have to account for as Ottawa boasts three blueliners with 30-or-more points. But Kuba and Gonchar’s roles are mostly as set up men. Rookie Jared Cowan played all 82 and ex-Ranger Matt Gilroy will be looking for redemption. Our team must not allow the Sens back end to control the tempo. Pressuring the points is important.

Slight Edge: Rangers

GOALIES: As noted above, the Rangers will go as Henrik Lundqvist does. If on, our team arguably has the best goalie on the planet to backstop us through the tournament. That he’s never been past the second round leaves a little doubt. The regular season and postseason are two different animals. Hank knows what’s at stake. He’ll have to be really good against the high flying Sens.

If there’s a wildcard in the series, it’s Craig Anderson. He’s capable of stealing games and did so against us. Toss out the stats (2.84 GAA, .914 Save Pct.). He still won 33 games and recently returned from injury. The thing with him is that like most goalies, the more rubber he sees, the better he seems to play. So, getting traffic in front will be essential. Anderson can make the saves. It’s about the quality. The Rangers must not get frustrated if they don’t finish early on.

Edge: Rangers

SPECIAL TEAMS: In any series, how your power play and penalty killing unit perform can make or break you. The Bruins proved you could win without it. Our team isn’t good enough for that even if they’ve attempted to drive our fanbase batty. Yes, the power play looked better at season’s conclusion. Believe it or not, Callahan’s 13 PPG are three better than Spezza and Michalek. Gaborik also notched 10 and Richards finished with seven. However, he and Stepan are the table setters with our unit largely dependent on Captain Cally and Gabby. Tortorella mixed it up late using Boyle with some success and Anisimov’s game breaking speed provided some highlights.

For the Sens, it’s simple. Contain Karlsson and Spezza and you have a great chance of nullifying their man-advantage. Michalek is skilled in front. Gonchar won’t shoot a ton and neither will Gilroy. Alfredsson is always a threat and will enjoy going up against Swedish buddy Lundqvist. He loves to go high. Neil could see time as he has been known to make life difficult on Henrik.

Ottawa ranked 11th best at a 18.2 clip due to their skill as compared to our at times scary unit that finished 23rd (15.7). Of note, the Senators performed better on the road ranking 12th (18.9) while our team was 22nd at MSG (15.8). Ottawa placed 15th at home (17.4) while the Blueshirts were 19th best away (15.7). If there is one area to exploit, the Sens allowed seven shorthanded goals compared to our four. Our PK was fifth (86.2) and scored eighth SHG led by Hagelin and Prust, who shared the lead with two. Ottawa’s PK finished 20th (81.6) but also was dangerous shorthanded as evidenced by nine shorties with Alfredsson’s three pacing them.

Edge: Senators

COACHES: John Tortorella hasn’t been past the first round in a while. There was the Cap debacle in ’09 where he got suspended for getting into it with a fan. Our team then missed on the last day the following year. Last year, the Caps ousted us again in five. One noticeable difference in Tort is that he’s stayed more grounded, opting not to kill the team when they have struggled. Despite an ugly finish Saturday, he accentuated the positives, indicating that our team can beat anyone. It’s been proven. How he handles the bench is big. If someone’s not going, he’ll change it up. Just don’t panic.

Paul MacLean has done a great job in Year One for Ottawa. Nobody had the Sens touching the postseason but he turned it around in one year. Why he doesn’t receive more accolades for the Jack Adams is a mystery. It really should come down to him versus Kevin Dineen if we’re being fair because Ken Hitchcock took over a more experienced team. MacLean’s frantic pace has paid dividends with his best players buying in. They are a fun club to watch. It’ll be a contrast of styles. We’ll give Tortorella the edge due to experience which includes a Cup.

Edge: Rangers

INTANGIBLES: This should favor the Rangers, who boast enough players who are sick of losing early. Lundqvist, Callahan, Girardi, Staal, Boyle, Anisimov and Dubinsky should be hungry. Add Richards and there’s plenty of incentive. The Sens have some experience too in Alfredsson, Spezza, Gonchar, Neil, Kuba and Anderson. But this is an area that should be to our advantage if it’s tight.

Edge: Rangers

Prediction: Of potential opponents, this is the one I didn’t want to face. However, the Rangers have to beat someone. All year, they proved they were good enough to finish atop the East in a loaded division. No small feat. Now, they’ll have the target on their back as they try to continue the team mantra of Playing The Right Way. Anything less than victory would be a colossal disappointment.

RANGERS IN 6

John Tortorella didn’t take too kindly to a Brooks Orpik knee on knee hit that injured Derek Stepan during tonight’s 5-2 loss to the Pens. With under five minutes left and the Rangers trailing by two, Stepan who moments earlier took a clean hit and delivered one of his own tried to skate by Orpik at the Pittsburgh blueline. Unfortunately, as he was making his move the right knee was caught by the Pens’ bruising defenseman. Orpik was tossed out of the game for a kneeing major, which is an automatic review by the league. I don’t believe there was intent to injure. Just an unlucky play.

Tortorella fumed during a terse postgame, labeling the hit as “cheap and dirty.” He then went on to rip the Pittsburgh organization, basically pointing out if the shoes were reversed, they’d whine about it while referencing Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who both have come under fire recently. Both were involved post-whistle during the Flyer game last weekend that finished ugly due to Dan Bylsma sticking out his fourth line with the outcome decided. A clear message, which isn’t supposed to happen. Not coincidentally, energizer Joe Vitale nailed Daniel Briere with a clean hit that injured him, causing two fights and a reaction from Peter Laviolette we don’t usually see with the vet coach climbing the railing screaming obscenities at Bylsma, who let Tony Granato do his bidding.

During the same game, Vitale accidentally had a knee on knee hit on Flyer defenseman Niklas Grossmann, who remains questionable for the first round against those Pens. It’s hard to come down on a fourth liner like Vitale who plays the game the right way. However, superstar teammates Crosby and Malkin in particular do get away with a lot post-whistle. So, it’s easy to see Tort’s point about the organization’s hypocrisy. Given how Matt Cooke has transformed himself into a clean player, it’s hard to believe his more successful teammates are the guys Flyer assistant coach Craig Berube called the dirtiest players on the Pens. If you follow their games, they push the envelope. I don’t take issue with Crosby but could do without soon to be Hart recipient Malkin’s repeated two-handers and cross checks which disrespect the game.

Whether I would’ve went off about what looked like an accident is another story altogether. Tortorella should’ve stopped short of going after the Pens, leaving the focus on Stepan’s recovery. A positive was that he was able to skate to the bench but the Rangers were cautious, not using him at the end of the game. Hopefully, the second-year pivot will be alright for next week’s first round.

It’s been quite some time since there were meaningful games at Madison Square Garden. No. We’re not talking about a .500 Knicks squad that’s trying to make the NBA playoffs without it’s starting point guard and power forward. This also isn’t like the Rangers squeaking in and then teasing us. For once anyway, MSG’s hockey club has made this a great season thus far, exceeding expectations.

Not in my wildest dreams did I see the Blueshirts winning the league’s toughest division let alone clinching the top seed for next week’s tournament. I still find myself questioning if it’s real. New York Rangers. 2011-12 Atlantic Division Champs is unfamiliar territory. At least to many younger Garden Faithful who weren’t around when a Curse was lifted. It’s unfair to draw comparisons between that team chalk full of Hall Of Famers and this one, who even with Brad Richards’ addition were picked to finish anywhere from fourth to eighth by experts.

So here we are with Game 81 against the big bad Penguins kinda meaningless. Unless you’re John Tortorella who intends to play the final two hard like the other 80 that got his team in this position. The Rangers find themselves tied with the Canucks for the NHL lead with 109 points, challenging for the President’s Trophy. Both have two left. Home ice throughout the playoffs could come in handy. But I can’t think that far ahead. I’m more locked in on right now, which really is who will it be. The Caps, Sabres or even the Panthers. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see. I don’t have a preference. If you earn the No.1 spot as the Blueshirts have, it shouldn’t matter who they face. It’s up to them to protect their territory and use it to their advantage.

Maybe that seems a bit cocky but not in the least. One thing the playoffs have shown is that home ice isn’t what it used to be. Don’t take it for granted. That’s my message for these Rangers, who have followed the team mantra Play The Right Way. As captain Ryan Callahan said the other night, this is what you play for. Henrik Lundqvist made sure to point out that it doesn’t really mean anything if they don’t move forward. It’s about remembering the bad taste they’ve had the past couple of times they’ve made the postseason. If it’s the Caps, there will be a daily reminder.

This year, the Blueshirts want to be taken seriously. Well, if they didn’t have your attention before, they certainly have it now. Marian Gaborik is playing the best hockey of his career, delivering big goals and two-way hockey that would make Gordon Bombay proud. In Year Three on Broadway, he’s gotten his nose dirty, which is what’s required when the competition picks up. It took Richards a while to settle in and find chemistry with Gaborik but now that he has, they’ve teamed with tenacious rookie Carl Hagelin to form a dynamic line. Hagelin is the one you didn’t see coming. The classic overachiever who makes good. Another Red Berenson product who will do anything to win.

Speaking of which, you can’t bring up that in your face style without mentioning Captain Cally, who already has taken the mantle and run with it in his first year as captain. Nobody plays harder, gives more than the Rochester kid who leads by example. We’re lucky to have him. If only he could get through between now and Wednesday to buddy Brandon Dubinsky. Duby’s just as important if they’re to go anywhere this Spring. So too is Artem Anisimov, who shows flashes of brilliance like his end to end power play goal the other night that killed the Flyers. Whoever Tortorella chooses to play with Derek Stepan better be ready because that’s the line who must provide secondary scoring to relieve pressure on our horses.

On the back end, Dan Girardi has been the backbone logging significant minutes while successfully teaming with sophomore Ryan McDonagh, who is scary good for his age. I’ll never comprehend what Bob Gainey saw parting with the former Badger in the Scott Gomez trade. One which will continue to be brought up in these parts for a long time. The instincts he has are rare. Anticipating where to be defensively, which makes him difficult on the game’s best while knowing when to go so he can score and set up goals like Tuesday.

While the play of Danny G and McD have been crucial, Mike Del Zotto’s resurgence and Marc Staal’s return have been a big boost. Without Del Zotto’s skill that’s produced his first 10-goal, 40-point season, our blueline would lack a playmaking D. Even if he does drive us a bit crazy with his penchant for passing, it would be unwise to overlook his contributions. Del Zotto’s recent two-goal, three-point game came at the right time which can only benefit the Rangers. They need him to be a factor. As for Staal, it’s been a rollercoaster since returning for the Winter Classic. Some nights, he looks great while others, he struggles which is to be expected. Lately, Marc’s played better which is a big piece to the puzzle. Since being paired with Anton Stralman, he’s stepped up his play. Offensively and defensively, Staal’s improving. The true test comes in the second season.

What’s made this year so special is that the Rangers are a T-E-A-M. From stars such as Lundqvist, Gaborik and Richards to ultimate warriors like Brian Boyle, Brandon Prust, Ruslan Fedotenko and Stu Bickel, they are a complete roster who doesn’t get by on talent. Rather effort, which has earned them the 51-22-7 record they bring into Pittsburgh tonight. When rivals have challenged them, they’ve stood up and excelled. This team plays better when the chips are down. If opponents want to run roughshod with our stars, expect a Prust, Bickel or Mike Rupp to be heard from.

Winning in the regular season is not easy but it’s definitely not as challenging as the postseason. To have the ultimate success and bring home the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 18 years, they’ll have to battle hard against whoever stands in the way. It’s who’s mentally and physically ready to win those battles that determines the outcome. Our Blueshirts get their jerseys dirty, sacrificing arms and legs to succeed. The hitting will be ferocious and so will the shot blocking that’s become an art at Penn Station for a club that doesn’t know the word quit. Boyle, Callahan, Girardi and McDonagh will do whatever it takes. So will Prust, who the coach must make sure he gives enough shifts to.

All year, Lundqvist has been the rock between the pipes. Whether he beats out Jon Quick for the Vezina pales in comparison to what he wants. Fair or unfair, King Henrik’s won only two playoff rounds. Both came with No.68 and a D that wasn’t as good as the current group. Outside of the five-game ouster of the Devils in ’09, he’s yet to really steal a series. We’re not saying he has to be brilliant. These Rangers are stronger than the previous rosters who were only good enough for maybe a round. Hank only needs to emulate the performance in Philadelphia where he made money stops. He must be the difference. If he is, it’s hard to see us losing early.

No doubt the pressure is on beginning next week. For True Blue like myself and the other blueseaters, this is what we live for. You’re damn right there’ll be high anxiety once the first puck is dropped. Are you ready?

Henrik Lundqvist is congratulated by Dan Girardi and Marc Staal after making 37 saves in the Rangers’ 5-3 win over the Flyers that wrapped up the East’s No.1 seed for the first time since ’93-94.

The Flyers made it interesting late. But a four-goal first period onslaught proved too large for Philly to overcome. Ryan McDonagh, Brian Boyle, Artem Anisimov, Ryan Callahan and Marian Gaborik all scored as the Rangers wrapped up the East’s top spot with a 5-3 victory- sweeping the Flyers for the first time in regular season history.

For the first time in 18 years, the Rangers will finish first in the conference. With two games left, they’re still challenging Vancouver and St. Louis for the league’s best record. At the moment, the Blueshirts’ record of 51-22-7 for 109 points is two better than the Canucks, who have come back to tie up the Ducks after two periods. Meanwhile, the Blues trail by three. The final two won’t be easy with a visit to Pittsburgh Thursday and then a pivotal match Saturday at MSG against potential first round opponent Washington. A lot depends on what happens when the Caps host the Panthers, who with a point tonight in a 5-4 overtime loss to Winnipeg, need only one point to clinch their first Southeast title. Washington also knows the pressure’s on thanks to a miraculous come from behind win by Buffalo, who got a little help from the refs in a crazy 6-5 overtime triumph.

While that all gets sorted out, the Rangers can take solace knowing they were the East’s best team during the regular season. Whether that translates to the postseason remains to be seen. As they found out tonight, no lead is safe and no game is over until the final buzzer. Even against a bitter rival they’ve dominated. With the 5-3 win, the Blueshirts won all six meetings against the Flyers, outscoring them 27-11. Still, Philadelphia put up a better fight after unraveling in a sloppy first where our team took full advantage of every Flyer mistake.

“I love this, what a season,” former Conn Smythe winner Brad Richards beamed following a two assist effort giving him nine points (1-8-9) over the past six. “This is a great time of year. Yes, it’s going to be a grind, it always is, but we have a good team here, and we have the right pieces in place. It’s up to us.”

McDonagh got it started with a perfect pinch to finish off a Gaborik feed from behind the net for his first goal in 25 games. The play was made possible due to Carl Hagelin’s hustle. After falling down, he wisely pushed the puck behind the net where Richards worked it to an isolated Gaborik, who quickly found an unguarded McDonagh for his seventh. A momentum swing came after ultimate warrior Brandon Prust didn’t like Zac Rinaldo’s antics against Gaborik. Prusty came off the bench and went with Rinaldo, beating him. I guess the Flyers didn’t watch the tape of the line brawl. Our team plays better when opponents take liberties. Soon after, McDonagh set up Brian Boyle for his 10th. His third in five and fourth over the last seven.

Following a silly fight in which Mike Rupp got beat badly by Jody Shelley, the Flyers lost their discipline. First, Jaromir Jagr took an unnecessary hooking penalty in the offensive zone drawn by Anisimov, who ironically scored the third goal of the period in highlight reel fashion. He took a Dan Girardi pass inside the blueline and blew past Flyer defenders before going forehand deke on Ilya Bryzgalov. While making his move, Marc-Andre Bourdon hooked him and after finishing, an errant Pavel Kubina high-stick drew blood, leading to a double minor and five-on-three. Having had success once at Wachovia with three power play goals, the Rangers were on their way to duplicating it when Callahan got to a loose rebound in front and chipped it past Bryzgalov for his career best 29th from Brad Richards and Derek Stepan.

When the period ended, the usually boisterous Philly crowd was stunned. That also included a frustrated Wayne Simmonds, who couldn’t believe his luck when Henrik Lundqvist flat out robbed him on the doorstep during a Flyer power play. Even though he allowed three, Lundqvist was outstanding with his stellar netminding ultimately the difference between the two teams. The Flyers never quit, making life difficult the last two periods. Lundqvist stood tall due to eight power plays, including a preposterous call on Callahan after Simmonds punched him. He finished with 37 saves with many off quality chances.

Part of the Flyers’ strategy was to play dirty. Not literally. But there were a lot of extracurricular stuff after the whistle and even during play. They went after our captain, who gave it right back. The Simmonds undetected rough on Callahan ticked me off because somehow, the refs called it on our guy, who really did nothing except accentuate it. Perhaps it was an unsportsmanlike conduct. But Simmonds and teammate Max Talbot did everything they could to take our team off their game. Eventually, it worked cause the second period was ugly and third even uglier. That played more to Philly’s style. A late hit from Brayden Schenn on Marc Staal during an icing gave us an opportunity to bury them. Instead, a Richards trip swung the momentum.

Soon after a Flyer power play expired, Jakub Voracek’s second try was rewarded when his shot went off Staal’s skate past Lundqvist, ending the shutout. It was his third goal over two with the ex-Jacket also notching a pair in their win over the Penguins. A Hagelin penalty put the hosts right back on the power play but they couldn’t cash due in part to a sprawling Lundqvist, who robbed Claude Giroux. Even though they didn’t capitalize, the Flyers came in waves, pinning the Rangers in and forcing Henrik to come up with tough stops. Their momentum stalled when Talbot got into it with Gaborik, getting sent to the sin bin for a high-stick, which really was a rough. Gabby made him pay thanks to a great keep by Staal, who then dished across to Anton Stralman, who also made a great play at the point to keep it alive before finding Gaborik all alone in the slot for his 41st. An absolute cannon that Bryzgalov had no chance on. Gaborik needs one to match his career high and two to pass it with two games to go.

“It feels good to beat them again, and complete the deal,” Gaborik noted following another big night with a goal and an assist, extending his point streak to six. “With the Winter Classic and all, we’ve been kind of linked together with them for a while.”

However, a Girardi hold with 13 seconds left got the Flyers back in it quickly when Simmonds jammed home a Giroux rebound with less than seven seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to 5-2. On the play, he won a faceoff to Kimmo Timonen and then one-timed a shot which a sliding Lundqvist somehow got a piece of, twisting around. But Simmonds got to the loose change for his 28th. 

The rest of the game saw our team hand the Flyers chances with uncharacteristic play. As Staal noted after clinching, they sat back too much which isn’t how they want to play. Something that Callahan repeated in an interview with John Giannone. Stu Bickel went at Simmonds and picked up an additional two that put Philadelphia on another power play. They were dangerous all night despite technically only scoring once in eight tries. Lundqvist bailed his teammates out time and time again with money saves. This was the kind of game that if you didn’t watch, you figured it hurt his Vezina chances against shutout leader Jon Quick. But the Flyers were all over him and he answered the bell every time.

Another bench minor (way too many lately) gave the Flyers more momentum. Sure. They didn’t score with our PK getting the job done. But again, all the special teams killed us and allowed them to dictate. Giroux was everywhere. It seemed like he never left the ice. He wound up with three assists including his 64th on an innocent looking Andreas Lilja shot that must’ve changed direction because it was changed to Scott Hartnell, who now has a ridiculous 37 goals. Not bad for a super pest who is a royal pain to play against. People forget that the ex-Pred was a first round pick. He’s been the Flyers’ emotional leader as evidenced during the Pens game where he mocked someone during the circus who looked like Hulk Hogan’s brother. Pretty comical.

With still 9:14 remaining, the Flyers threw the kitchen sink at Lundqvist but he never buckled. Not even after he came up hobbled on Simmonds’ goal when he made that crazy dive. One thing about King Henrik. He’s a lot tougher than he looked and absolutely hates giving up goals and losing. If this is going to be our year, he’ll have to continue to be the man when it all starts for real.

“There were times where I wanted to say, `I’m outta here.’ But I got through it,” he said after establishing a new career high with his 39th win. “We’ll see how it is in a couple of days, see how it feels. Hopefully, I’ll be ready to go, but it was tough.”

If John Tortorella decides to give his horse tomorrow off against Pittsburgh, nobody would complain. Even if the Canucks shot their way past the Ducks to tie us.

“It’s been a long year for these guys, but they deserve the No. 1 seed,” Tortorella praised. “Now, in a couple of days, things will change. But I know our guys are excited for that.”

3rd Star-Claude Giroux, Phi (3 assists-62, 63, 64, 3 SOG, 4 hits, 13-9 on draws in 27:13)
2nd Star-Ryan McDonagh, NYR (7th of season, assist, five hits, two blocked shots in 28:13)
1st Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (37 saves, incl. 13/14 in 3rd-career best 39th win)