UND Heading to the big Apple in 2016

Yes, it's true. UND will play the Boston College Eagles on December 3, 2016, at Madison Square Garden, in New York City at the College Hockey Showdown.

UND, BC to Meet in New ‘College Hockey Showdown at Madison Square Garden’ in December 2016: http://t.co/uqX0uOADJW #UNDproud

— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) September 24, 2015

#NCHCHockey, @TheGarden announce College Hockey Showdown @HkyShowdown_MSG w/ @UNDmhockey & BC http://t.co/PsCbQMQPbO pic.twitter.com/PTSrTo2l4o

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) September 24, 2015

Video: New York Ranger: Derek Stepan's Series-Clinching Goal and Hand Shake

The New York Rangers are going back to the Eastern Conference Finals for a second year in a row. Former Wisconsin Badgers forward Derek Stepan scored the series-clinching goal at the 11:24 mark fo the overtime period.

Former #Badgers McDonagh and Stepan have OT goals to help Rangers advance past Washington in Stanley Cup playoffs.

— Andy Baggot (@AndyBaggotWSJ) May 14, 2015

(Video) Penguins Blake Comeau Scores a Goal Against the Rangers

There was a battle in front of the net. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Blake Comeau scores a gritty goal against the New York Rangers. Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist didn't seem real pleased with the play and thought there was goalie interference on the play. What do you think?

Brady Skjei will return for Junior season

From @NYRangers prospect camp, @BradySkjei has confirmed his return to the #Gophers. Story: http://t.co/1yWldNMZcc pic.twitter.com/SgFXyLC1pS
— Minnesota M Hockey (@GopherHockey) July 3, 2014

Now that the development camps are in full swing, the Minnesota Gophers got some good news. Defenseman Brady Skjei will return for his junior season.

By Brian Deutsch (GopherSports.com) - Gopher Hockey defenseman Brady Skjei has confirmed he will return to the University of Minnesota for his junior season in 2014-15.

The Lakeville, Minn., native is currently participating at the New York Rangers Prospect Development Camp at Madison Square Garden Training Center and informed the National Hockey League (NHL) organization of his decision on Thursday.

John Tortorella explains his decision to sit Brad Richards

Classic John Tortorella, the guy is a gem. Earlier in the game, Torts was caught on audio cussing out a lines man and dropping the F-bomb. In the course of one night, Torts cussed out the on-ice officials and told the writers to kiss his ass and won a hockey, so he keeps his job for at least another day... It pretty much sounds like he's going to get fired if the Rangers don't make it out of the second round, if you believe the scuttlebutt that you read on the internet. Someone over on the Hockey Writers suggested that Tors coach the Maine Black Bears. Now I would love to see that.

More Torts: "I need to make decisions about what I feel is right for our team to win tonight's game, & that's why I made that decision"
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 24, 2013

Torts: "By no means is this a situation where I take him out and I'm blaming him...Brad Richards is a helluva hockey player"
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 24, 2013

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(Video) Bruins Merlot line lead B's to a 3-0 Series lead

The Boston Bruins have pushed the New York Rangers to the brink of elimination, with a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers, Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. The Bruins erased a 1-0 Rangers lead in the third period with goals from Johnny Boychuk and Daniel Paille.

I don’t know how you could describe Paille’s miraculous goal, the goal came off a goofy rebound that should have found its way into the net, but had eyes. Seriously, you have to see this goal to believe it. The puck that was shot by Gregory Campbell looked like it came off the face of a sand wedge and had some serious back-spin on it. If I was going to describe it, the puck’s movement looked more like Titleist Pro V1 golf than a hockey puck. The puck was going towards the goal line – hit the goal line and spun back like it was hit by Tiger Woods. The puck never broke the plane until Paille put the puck past Henrik Lundqvist on the rebound, for the game winning goal.

I know some people are sick of hearing about the fourth line, but you can see that the Merlot line had the majority of the points for the Boston Bruins tonight, Shawn Thornton (0g-2a—2pts), Gregory Campbell (0g-1a—1pts), Daniel Paille (1g-1a—2pts). Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk also got his fourth goal of the playoffs tonight as well.

New Drinking game. Everytime Pierre McGuire mentions the Bruins fourth line drink a beer, you will not be sober by the end of the game.
— Eric J. Burton (@goon48) May 22, 2013

Mike Rupp and the New York Rangers come unglued

Mark it down as being a rough and tumble hockey game between two teams that really don't like each other at all. In the end the Rangers kind of lost it and acted like a bunch of spoiled babies at the end of the game.

For his efforts, New York Rangers forward Mike Rupp was given a 10 minutes misconduct and a double minor (4 minutes) for roughing. I don't know, If I was Rupp, I might think twice of trying to rattle Marty Brodeur's cage, your just looking for some extra lumber to the back of the legs. It's obvious that the Rangers are sending a message but the fact remains that the Devils really didn't take the bait from the Rangers.

Personally, I think that the Mike Rupp hit behind the net on Devils Defenseman Peter Harold was questionable even a border line and unnecessary check, Rupp left his feet and led with his hands as well, lucky for Peter Harold that Rupp didn't catch all of him.

It should be an exciting game in Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night as the series is now tied again. During game the Devils play disciplined hockey for the most part.

Here are the penalty minutes from the boxscore 
06:18 NYR Mike Rupp : Misconduct (10 min) - 0 min
06:18 NYR Mike Rupp served by Michael Del Zotto :  Roughing - 2 min
06:18 NYR Stu Bickel : Roughing - 2 min
06:18 NJD Ryan Carter : Roughing - 2 min 06:18
NYR Mike Rupp served by Michael Del Zotto : Roughing - 2 min
06:18 NYR Stu Bickel : Misconduct (10 min) - 0 min
 06:18 NJD Ryan Carter : Misconduct (10 min) - 0 min

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• Tortorella Takes Shots at Devils, Defends Prust

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Leave the game alone – Part Deux

There seems to be a lot of discussion on what would open up the game of hockey. Some want to get rid of shot blocking; others want to limit the number of players that can line up in front of their goal. Some have suggested that the size of the goalie equipment is making goal scoring hard. Now Rangers head coach John Tortorella has chimed in, Torts would like to see the return of the “red line.” I think that is a horrible idea and would really slow down the game of hockey.

Mark Everson and Brett Cyrgalis --- “To me, I think they need to put the red line back in,” Tortorella said yesterday as his team prepares for Game 1 of its Eastern Conference final matchup against the Devils tonight at Madison Square Garden.

“Look at the puck possession teams,” Tortorella said, “they’re out.”

Coming out of the lockout in 2005, the NHL made it legal to make a two-line pass, meaning coming from out of one’s zone, behind the blue line, a pass could be made to a player beyond the center-ice line, the so-called red line. It was a pass that used to be illegal, immediately blowing the play dead.

The new rule was designed to open up the game, and if it did for a while, the way teams have adapted is by playing tighter in their own zone.

“Because it’s a game of ping-pong,” Tortorella said. “The game is a long pass, forecheck, defend. Another long pass, forecheck, defend.”

With a history of fines for criticizing the league, Tortorella then looked at the NHL representative in the room and added, “I better just leave it at that.”

I like the way the NHL is currently run, albeit the officiating would be a little more consistent during the playoffs but the NHL is comprised of the best players in the game of hockey and you’re not always going to have a 8-7 game, some games are going to be 2-1, 1-0, 0-0… I have no idea what bringing back the red line is going to do but slow the game down more and give us more unnecessary whistles and stoppages. Please leave the game of hockey alone.

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• PHT: Tortorella downplays Devils-Rangers hype
• John Tortorella doesn't care much for hype
• Torts: Bring back red line