Rangers have to hope Devils aren’t in their future

The New York Rangers, who started the week first overall with 91 points in 64 games, are putting together a season to remember – even though they lost their last three games, including Friday night’s at Chicago. How impressive is that, when it’s considered that last season they didn’t earn their 91st point until Game 80?

Still, the Rangers could be casting anxious glances at the standings – particularly if it develops they meet the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the playoffs. That was the suggestion from the New York Post’s Mark Everson following New Jersey’s 4-1 victory over the Rangers on Tuesday.

“They hated us tonight,” Rangers centre Brian Boyle said. “They wanted to kill us tonight. We didn’t match them.”

Wrote Everson: “It is what makes the Devils the playoff foe the Nhl-leading Rangers should fear most.”

The Devils were led by Ilya Kovalchuk, who beat Henrik Lundqvist 49 seconds into the game for his first goal in 10 games. And while Kovalchuk made it clear after the game the Rangers are leading the East for a reason, Devils goalie Martin Brodeur added this: “He (Kovalchuk) had to learn how to hate them a little bit. It’s pretty easy to do.”

The Devils have won three of five games against the Rangers, and Brodeur has played a substantial role in the outcome by allowing only two goals and one empty-netter in his last three games against their hated rivals.