It doesn’t seem so long ago that the Caps last hosted the Rangers at the Phone Booth in a meaningful game. Seems almost like yesterday that Sergei Fedorov blasted the puck past Henrik Lundqvist and ended eleven years of misery for Caps fans.

And yet at the same time, it feels like a lifetime ago.

Both teams have undergone transformations, tinkered with their lineups and reset the rosters in hopes of a better, longer run this time around. The Rangers lost a few guys like depth player Blair Betts and the overpaid CC’s new favorite, Scott Gomez, but have added a number of new faces like Chris Higgins and Vinny Prospal, as well as former Cap Donald Brashear.

Despite all the sort-of-star power you usually see on a Rangers’ roster, the story for New York to this point hasn’t been about them. It’s been the play of a couple of rookie defensemen, Matt Gilroy and Michael Del Zotto. Both have tallied their first career NHL goals and have combined for 4 points and a +3 rating through three games. Considering the Rangers have struggled both offensively and defensively in recent years, they can only help.

Three Things to Look for
The Fan Favorite – Matt Bradley scored two of the more memorable goals of last year’s playoff series in one game, beating Lundqvist when he seemed unbeatable. Could Brads rattle the King again and get a couple more goals in this one? …probably not. Still, it’s fun to dream.

Superpest vs Superstars – It’s still up in the air as to whether Sean Avery plays tomorrow night, but we learned last spring that his antics are no match for the Caps’ firepower. They just don’t let themselves get rattled (much) and if they can force him to take penalties, the Rangers are without one of their best penalty killers after losing Betts this summer.

Scoring Machines – Ovechkin now has 5 goals and 9 points, leading the league in both categories. But he’s not alone. The foursome of Ovechkin, Laich, Backstrom and Semin have combined for a ridiculous 30 points in just three games – for those of you who really struggle with math, that’s 10 points per game. And for those of you who struggle with obvious generalizations…that’s a freaking ridiculous pace to start the year.

Remember This Guy?
So you may or may not recall, but back in April we had a unique visit from a “special” guy here in the Cheap Seats – our good friend, Ranger fan Steve. And with the Rangers kicking off the season series here in DC, it seemed an appropriate time to bring him back. We just couldn’t keep him away.

…no, really, we couldn’t. We had to call security and he still got in.

Anyway, in honor of his Ranjuhs and their (unintentionally) hilarious appearance on Letterman the other night, we’ve invited Steve to give his own Top Ten list – the Top Ten things he’s most excited about for the new Rangers season.

Steve: Thanks, CC, and hello to all my compatriots in the hockey-viewing and enjoying public. LET’S GO RANJUHS WOOOOOOOO! HEN-RY! HEN-RY!

CC: Uh, Steve? The list?

Steve: Right, right. Without a doubt. Apologies, my gracious hostess. Here are my top ten…reasons why the Devils SUCK! WOO!

CC: Wait, hang on, that wasn’t the deal – you’re supposed to give your list of the top ten things you’re looking forward to this season, and…and there’s that blank stare again. Okay. Whatever. Take it away, Steve.

Steve’s Top Ten Reasons Why the Devils Suck
10. Their goalie isn’t Swedish. I mean, come on! Everyone knows the best goalies are Swedish. And he can’t even pronounce his own name, what’s up with that? Hey, buddy, your name is MAR-TIN. Not Mar-tah or whatever the $@#& you call yourself.

9. The trap. What the hell, it sounds like some kind of disease or something. You know, the kind that your girl gives you when she swears she ain’t screwin’ around, but you KNOW you didn’t have before, and makes it hurt when you p-

CC: STEVE.

Steve: Most sincerest apologies. I shall continue, if it pleases you.

CC: …fine.

8. They play in Newark. NEWARK. ‘Nuff said.

7. Those uniforms are brutal – who wears orange and black these days? That’s like…unpatriotic and anti-American.

CC: Uh, Steve? That’s the Flyers.

Steve: Huh? Oh. Oh, yeah, well…they suck, too.

CC: Okay, hard to argue with that one. Continue.

6. Their best scorer, that Parise kid, looks like a pretty little girl. I’m not sexist or anything, you know. Chicks can totally play hockey. But every time I see him I get the urge to slap an apron on him and shove him into the kitchen to-

CC: Ahem.

Steve: Er, to, uh…to earn equal pay for equal work. What? You gonna hit me? Okay, on to #5!

5. Jacques Lemaire and Lou Lamoriello are hobbit brothers separated at birth. Look it up.

CC: ………k.

4. They play in Newark. NEWARK. It sucks so much I had no choice except to put it on here twice – hell, even the NYC rats won’t come out to Newark.

3. They have the dumbest slogan ever. Come on, “Jersey’s Team”?? First of all, it’s not like any other team would claim that most distinguished of honors. And b, there are so many awesome New Yorkers at their games they might as well call Prudential Center “MSG, Jr.” Am I right? The Garden ROCKS.

2. They’re so damn boring. I mean, Sean Avery has more personality in his toenail than they have in their entire $#@&ing team. Those nights when the weight of the world is too much for this weary head, I know I can turn on a Devils game or an interview. It’s like a sleeping pill that’s totally not addictive. At all.

And the number one top ranked reason why the Devils suck is:
1. LET’S GO RANJUHS! LET’S GO RANJUHS!

CC: Uh, Steve? That’s not really a reason. I mean, you know that, right? You just cheered for your team. It doesn’t make sense.

Steve: …makes perfect sense to me.

CC: Fair enough.