2012 Eastern Conference Finals: Rangers Vs. Devils - Game 6 Notes

- This is the other side of the coin in terms of what the playoffs does to fans. What a horrible way to go out of the playoffs. There's nothing worse then losing a game in overtime. Unless the game you lose happens to knock you out of the playoffs. And, by the way, if you think the fans took the loss hard, you should see what some of the beat reporters are saying about the team. That's a good thing. It means they cared too.

- Give the New Jersey Devils all kinds of credit. They're a hell of a hockey team.

- I don't know if I'm going to go into too much detail about the game itself, but I will use this post to go into some detail about the series. Chris Kreider was the New York Rangers' best forward (both a fantastic and bad thing at the same time, because he really did play well), and I have no idea how he didn't get more ice time in Game 6. For as much as Brandon Dubinsky helped with the puck possession (and my word did he), I thought Kreider was doing a lot of the same things, plus creating more offense. He's going to be a special player. If nothing else can dull the pain of Friday, remember how good the young core of this team is going to be next year. He's the biggest part of that, with Ryan McDonagh being 1A.

Join me after the jump for more.

- I thought Henrik Lundqvist was spectacular Friday. Nothing he could have done about any of the goals, especially the last one. He just couldn't find the puck. I feel really bad for him. For the type of year he had, especially through the playoffs, to go out like that?

- Marian Gaborik had his best game of the series, he just couldn't find the net. He also accidentally dragged the puck back into the danger zone with his skate on the game-winning goal. Not blaming him at all (for the goal that is), and he's certianly going to ask a few questions about why he wasn't able to put the puck into the back of the net more. All and all, he wasn't good this postseason, but he also wasn't nearly as bad as some of you seem to think he was.

- Brad Richards had a beautiful opportunity to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead midway through the third period. With Martin Brodeur sprawled on the ice, and the whole top of the cage open, Richards flubbed the shot into Brodeur's pads. That was kind of the way this series went for the top line.

- Michael Del Zotto was horrible in the first period (although neither goal was his fault, despite him getting blame for both for some strange reason), but was a monster in the second and third periods. He went through a lot in the third round, but he showed a lot this year too. He's going to be so much better next year. All the young guys are.

- Marc Staal had his worst game of the playoffs. His pinch which lead to the Devils' first goal was a stupid decision to make, especially in an elimination game where the Rangers needed the first goal. They didn't get it, and they lost the series.

- Imagine how much different these playoffs would have been with Michael Sauer back?

- I though John Tortorella was brilliant all year. Not good. Not alright. Not even great. Brilliant. I'm so glad he's the coach of this hockey team.

- Carl Hagelin played well for most of the playoffs (had a rough finals though) but needs to find the back of the net more. He's a rookie, so this is all new to him, but next year the expectations have to be a little higher. Still, he was a monster on the forecheck.

- Even though he didn't do much in the Conference Finals, I think Anton Stralman earned a contract extension for his performance in these playoffs.

- I try to tell you guys this a lot, but you all mean so much to me and the other writers here on the site. You really do. You guys make this site what it is, and I couldn't be happier or more humbled by all the support. Since I took over the site in July, the site has grown by leaps and bounds each month. It's been remarkable, and I have you guys to thank for it. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for continuing to support this website. It means a lot to me, and I hope you all are enjoying it as well.

Believe.