Continuing my Q and A, I was honored to speak with Daniel Akeson who writes a column for Outside the Garden titled Pucks on Broadway. We spoke about tonight's contest between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers. Actually, he really just spoke about the Rangers, their struggles, fondest and worst moments as a fan. Enjoy.

Q: The Rangers made history on Sunday by losing their second consecutive game by a 1-0 margin. This must be devastating for fans, much less the players, who are definitely struggling.

A: As far as losing the consecutive games 1-0, yes that is difficult to accept. However, at the same time, they were road games and as close as two games could be. Against Boston, the Rangers generated opportunities, just not enough quality scoring chances before falling in a shootout. Similarly against Pittsburgh, the Rangers played well, but were not rewarded for their efforts. Between the bad bounces, questionable calls, and posts, the Rangers have yet to catch a break. Nonetheless, you can see they are a team ready to take flight and it will take one strong period to really bring them out of this funk.

Q: Scott Gomez cost 7 years and $50 million, but so far, he is looking like a major bust. Is it the spotlight of playing in New York (even though he played 15 miles away for five years with the Devils), or adjusting to his new linemates, coaching staff, etc?

A: I still think it's far too early to call him a bust. A large part of the Rangers lack of chemistry is that they haven't settled on line combinations. It seems now that Gomez and Jagr will be the first line pairing, which will help both develop some chemistry. Playing in New York I don't think has had an effect merely because he has said all the right things. His speed and finesse are there and it's just a matter of time, it appears, before he will excel. I would have to imagine playing a defensive system like the Devils had versus a mixed system of team defense and quick transition that the Rangers use is also going to take time to adapt to. My only complaint with Gomez is that he forces a lot of passes which result in giveaways, but I think that will change as he develops some confidence and chemistry.

Q: The Rangers’ 13 goals in eight games rank them last in the league in scoring.  Is this worrying you or do you think they will pick up the slack soon enough?

A: The Rangers were made out to be a powerhouse offensively before the season and that has yet to be the case. That's OK as long as their defensive side of the puck is solid, which it has been coming around. I am a big believer in defense breeding offense and now that the defense has settled down, the offense can take some more chances. Am I worried? A bit, but in the end the Rangers lines are still being juggled, particularly now with all of the injuries, and that has to contribute.

Q: The Rangers and Devils have a history together. What is your fondest moment as a fan of the Rangers (Let me guess…1994) and one you wish never happened.

A: Haha, yeah of course 1994 is the fondest memory, but I'll give you another one as to not be cliché. When Brian Leetch returned to the Garden two seasons ago as a Bruin- that was perhaps one of my fondest memories of a game. The Rangers won and it brought tears to your eyes to see how Leetch was emotionally affected by being back home. It restored my faith in athletes that some still care for the fans and their cities, not just the money. This then brings me to my "wish it never happened" moment. I was sitting in a dorm room at college watching the Knicks game and Al Trautwig came across the screen and said: "This just in Ranger fans. It has happened. Brian Leetch has been traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs." On his birthday nonetheless. Now the Rangers have a history of deals like this, including Brad Park, Jean Ratelle, Eddie Giacomin, true travesties. I was enraged, saddened, threw my phone at the TV and was just in disbelief. What made matters even worse was that the trade has yet to bring anything to the Rangers really. Perhaps Michael Sauer, one of the draft picks, will pan out.

Q: Finally, the Rangers are in last place in the Atlantic Division with five points and a 2-5-1 record, while the Devils have not fared much better with a 3-4-1 record. What are the keys for the Rangers in tonight’s contest?

A: The biggest key tonight is the Rangers scoring first. They haven't been able to do that through most of the games and have been forced to play catch up. When a team is struggling offensively, it takes the pressure off to give yourself a bit of a cushion. The Devils are in an interesting position because they will either be the victim of the Rangers finally turning this around or the nail in the current coffin. That is the nature of great rivalries.

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