Devils fans try to rock Rock

As the Devils prepare to host the biggest hockey game in the history of Newark Monday, the number and volume of Rangers fans at Prudential Center continues to be a closely watched - and highly sensitive - topic.

Players repeatedly have cited strong crowd support during these playoffs - in which they are 4-2 at home - and long-time observers said the percentage of Rangers fans in the building for Game 3 Saturday was as low as they ever have seen it when the Devils host the Blueshirts.

Still, with the Devils failing to score and the Rangers scoring three goals in the third period, the vocal minority made it self heard, even managing a derisive chant of "Mar-ty, Mar-ty" aimed at New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur.

"There are a lot of Rangers fans," Brodeur said after Game 3. "They're the ones I guess with the money and they’re sitting right beside us, too. It’s not new for us. It’s been like that. When we swept them a few years ago our building was unbelievable, even though it was half Rangers fans."

Coach Pete DeBoer was asked about the home crowd's relative quiet in Game 3 and said this:

"I’m here to win hockey games. That plays no factor in what I’m doing at my level."