For at least 2 weeks, Hockey matters

Congratulations to the Rangers and Devils, the only two local winter teams to make the post-season (that's unless the Nets pull off a miracle before getting a chance to be swept by the Celtics). Lets face it, the Knicks are irrelevant, and the Nets are mediocre and underachieving. WHO notices the Islanders if they don’t win? Anybody notice that the NY Saints lacrosse team had higher TV ratings than the Devils and Islanders last year? That’s sad for a wonderful sport -especially come playoff time where every game matters and physicality and goaltending take over.

Let’s face it-hockey in the U.S.-with the exception of Boston and Detroit-have very limited fan bases. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, a greater idiot than Bud Selig -has failed miserably at growing the game in this country. Oh, that’s right-he threw away an entire season three years ago to insure his precious salary cap. That REALLY helped sell your game. Gary.
Most media see hockey players as the most gracious and accessible athletes among the 4 major sports. THEY LOVE their sport far more than the high priced divas of the other sports.
My pick-Rangers in six games. They have more firepower and a better goalie-Lundqvist IS BETTER than Brodeur right now. Plus, to demonstrate my previous points-the Rangers might as well have 7 home games in this series. When the Rangers rallied from a 2-nothing deficit Sunday, “The Rock” in Newark became Madison Square Garden South. Matter of fact, after the game, the Devils WFAN radio announcers of Matt Loughlin and Sherry Ross were exhorting Devils fans to show up for the playoff games.

Let’s face it; if Brodeur had led the Rangers to three Cups, he’d be one of the biggest athletes in the area. Instead, he is the only recognizable face on the #2 team in the metropolitan area. The Rangers don’t have-and never will have-that problem. If the Rangers win the series, hockey gets major play. If New Jersey wins another Cup, where will the parade be? Downtown Newark? How ‘bout the parking lot of the Prudential Center? A Rangers trip to the Finals.guarantees interest in the NY area-and that’s knowing that hockey is barely #4 in this sports town. The Devils are the best team you don’t know about. Sad, but true.