Devils

• The Eastern Conference finals kick off tonight as the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers, two of the NHLs fiercest rivals, battle for their first chance to get back to the Stanley Cup Final in several years.
(Bleacherreport.com)
• NEW YORK - The top-seeded New York Rangers beat the No. 6 New Jersey Devils 3-0 at Madison Square Garden in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final. How the game unfolded: 10:35: Henrik Lundqvist picks up his fifth career NHL playoff shutout. 21 saves.
(USA Today)
• The No. 6 New Jersey Devils are taking on the top-seeded New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final. How the game unfolded: 9:41: After 40 minutes of play, 0-0.
(USA Today)
• The Devils have reached the Eastern Conference finals as a team, but couldn't have done so without their leader, Zach Parise. The 27-year-old Minnesota native, who was made captain before this season, is proving his "C' was well-deserved.
(New York Post)
• The puck has yet to drop in the Eastern Conference finals between the Rangers and the Devils, but in at least one category the Rangers have taken the lead: ticket prices.
(New York Times Blogs)
• Ticket prices are climbing as the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils meet for a spot in the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Final, with seats offered for an average of almost $800 on the secondary market.
(Businessweek)
• Across the Hudson River, the Devils have assembled a balanced, opportunistic group in front of Martin Brodeur, the 40-year-old goaltender who has started at least one game in all five of the Rangers' and Devils' all-time playoff series meetings.
(New York Daily News)
• For Rangers and Devils fans, this does feel like 1994 again — except for the electronics.
(New York Times Blogs)
• Ilya Kovalchuk is in the third round of the NHL playoffs for the first time, which for a lesser player would be a nice milestone, barely worthy of note to anyone other than hard-core fans or family members.
(Newsday)