No lead is safe in hockey, especially a 2-0 series lead.
The Rangers blew one in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Lightning last season.
This year, their 2-0 lead against the Devils is no more.
Following back-to-back 5-1 victories in New Jersey, the Rangers dropped games at the Garden on Saturday and Monday.
Things are now tied with the Devils having regained home ice as the Rangers will need to win at least one more in Newark.
To break down what happened to the Blueshirts the last two games and what needs to change for Game 5 Thursday, we bring you a new episode of the “Up In The Blue Seats” podcast with Mollie Walker, Larry Brooks and me.
In the second half of the show, we are joined by Grammy Award-winning opera singer and Rangers national anthem singer John Brancy.
Up In The Blue Seats Podcast with Mollie Walker, Larry Brooks & Jake Brown:
- TWO STRAIGHT LOSSES: What the heck happened to the Rangers at MSG? They looked like a different team in Games 3 and 4 from the one that won back-to-back games in dominant fashion in Games 1 and 2. They had it right in front of them. The crowd tried to get them into it, but they just could not score.
- POWER-PLAY STRUGGLES: They have looked bad on the power play. This team is built on marquee players. If the top line is not going, they will have trouble winning in the playoffs against elite teams. They do not have a shutdown line.
- TIME TO PANIC?: Is it time for fans to panic? Will they turn this around in New Jersey on Thursday? They need Mika Zibanejad to take over.
John Brancy Interview:
Grammy Award Winning opera singer, Rangers national anthem singer
- BRANTHEM: Adopting the new nickname. What’s it like singing the anthem at MSG for playoff games? Are there nerves?
- ANTHEM AT MSG: How did he end up performing the anthem for the first time at MSG in 2022? How cool is it for Rangers fans to embrace him?
- COLLABS: Would love to work with the likes of Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli.
- OPERA: I perform my opera voice for John and he returns with his in “New York, New York.”
SUBSCRIBE ON:
Catch up on all episodes of “Up In The Blue Seats,” a New York Rangers podcast, by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow the crew on Twitter @MollieeWalkerr, @JakeBrownRadio & @NYP_Brooksie.