Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!
Some aren’t old enough to remember Friday, May 27 1994. rangers fans won’t let us forget.
They were down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals Series against a New Jersey Devils team on the rise featuring 22-year old Martin Brodeur. With Game 6 in the Meadowlands looming, tensions rose in New York City. ranger captain Mark Messier, who had never won a Cup without Wayne Gretzky, guaranteed victory and scored three goals himself in the third period. The double overtime Game 7 which followed ended with that repulsive commentary which haunts the proud supporters of New Jersey’s only Team. They went on to break a 54-year drought to finally win their fourth championship in 68 years.
Mr. Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils have gone on to win three Stanley Cups since that day. The rangers haven’t had a team since then. Until now.
Now they have a goaltender nominated for the Hart Memorial, Vezina, and Ted Lindsay awards. They challenged for the Presidents Trophy all season long and won the competitive Atlantic Division as well as the Eastern Conference first seed. They are in fact Stanley Cup contenders.
And now they are down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals Series to a New Jersey Devils team without a single representative in the All Star Game which is being hailed by experts as a complete team featuring Mr. Brodeur with Game 6 in Brick City looming.
The road to ice hockey’s pinnacle now goes through Newark. Tonight’s conquest will destroy the rangers’ promising season. Tonight’s conquest will eradicate the labor of the All-Star goaltender. Tonight’s conquest will silence the outspoken coach. Tonight’s conquest will remind Broadway of the hockey superiority across the river. Tonight’s conquest will finish the agony of past series. Tonight’s conquest will obliterate the hopes and dreams of a success-starved fan base. Tonight’s conquest will bring historic hockey presence to The Rock. Tonight’s conquest will put Mr. Brodeur on the path to winning as many Stanley Cups in his 21-year tenure as the rangers in their 86-year existence. Tonight’s conquest will begin a new soundtrack to the Devils-rangers playoff rivalry:
MAR-TY! MAR-TY! MAR-TY!
