Basisphilosophie » Jermain Defoe and U.S.

NEW YORK -- The last time the New York Rangers had a game to forget, they responded with five straight wins that put them on the cusp of the Stanley Cup finals. They are still there, and the Montreal Canadiens arent going away without a fight. New York needs one more victory to reach the championship round for the first time in 20 years. The Rangers know that Game 6 at home on Thursday is their best chance to get it. They returned home from Montreal on Wednesday, one day after a wild 7-4 loss cut their series lead to 3-2. If New York doesnt end it Thursday, the Rangers will have to go back to Montreal for a deciding Game 7. New York, which went the full seven games in each of the first two rounds of this years playoffs, will be playing its 20th post-season game. No team that played a pair of seven-game series before the conference finals has reached the Stanley Cup finals. "Its an opportunity to win the game to go to the Stanley Cup final," Rangers forward Brad Richards said. "I think everybody is alert and ready that way. We were talking about it all (Tuesday) how excited we were to get on the ice and start playing. "We had some mental breakdowns, but I dont think it had anything to do with (fatigue). Weve had a lot of rest this series. The opportunity that faces us right now, were pretty excited about it. I dont think there is too much letdown." In the second round, a poor performance at home in Game 4 against Pittsburgh dropped the Rangers into a 3-1 series hole. But New York won Game 5 on the road, took Game 6 at home, and won the clincher back in Pittsburgh to set up the matchup with Montreal. Now that the Canadiens have staved off elimination once, the Rangers are wary of giving them any more hope they can turn the tables. "You learn a lot from it. Thats why experience is experience," Richards said. "You go through many situations. (Tuesday) night was a bad feeling, but today were getting on a plane to go back to our city, and we get to play in front of our fans. "Its always, forget as quick as possible and try to remember the good things that were doing. It was one bad night, but weve been doing a lot of good things in this series." The Rangers won the opening two games in Montreal and then split a pair of overtime decisions at home. Even though they have had success on the road and in recent Game 7s, they know that going the distance again works against them. "Its a desperate time," Richards said. "You dont want to go back to a Game 7 where anything can happen. We want to get this done. Theyre a good team anywhere. "Were going to have to be a lot better, and we will be." This is as far as New York has advanced since captain Mark Messier led the club to the 1994 Stanley Cup title -- breaking the Rangers 54-year drought. The Garden will be ready to celebrate again Thursday. After the Rangers lost Game 4 to Pittsburgh, the loyal fans thought they might not see their team again until next season. That will be the situation again if the Canadiens pull off another victory. "You win a game, and things change in your locker room and you start feeling better about yourselves," Rangers defenceman Marc Staal said. "We know how it feels coming back in a series, but it doesnt change anything in our room. We are as confident as ever going into our building, and looking forward to it." So are the Canadiens. They know that if they wouldve scored in overtime of Game 4 as they did in Game 3, they wouldve had a two-game sweep at the Garden and would be the ones looking to advance Thursday. "Well be ready for one of those tight-checking games," defenceman Josh Gorges said Wednesday after an optional practice in Montreal. "Im sure it will be again one of those hard-fought games that well have to make sure that were even better than we were last game." Montreal will have rugged forward Brandon Prust back in the lineup after he served a two-game suspension for a late hit on Derek Stepan in Game 3 that broke the Rangers forwards jaw. Stepan returned Tuesday and scored two goals while wearing a full faceguard. The Rangers will be without defenceman John Moore. He was suspended for two games Wednesday after receiving a match penalty Tuesday night for a hit to Montreal forward Dale Weises head. Henrik Lundqvist will be back in goal for the Rangers after he was pulled in Game 5 on a rare off night in which he allowed four goals on 19 shots in less than two periods. He avoided the loss when New York rallied from a 4-1 deficit to get even. Backup goalie Cam Talbot gave up two goals in relief. "(Tuesday) night was probably the best game weve played in this series," Canadiens forward Lars Eller said. "If we keep doing a lot of those things, I think the end result will be good." Clearance Air Max 95 . 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Defoe, a 31-year-old striker, comes over from Tottenham Hotspur on a transfer believed to be somewhere in the neighbourhood of $10.8 million to $14.4 milion and an average yearly salary of a reported $8.3 million. Bradley, 26, heads to Toronto from Roma for a reported fee of $10 million and a salary of $7.1 million. "To acquire a star midfielder like Michael Bradley, seen by many as the top American player in the world, alongside Jermain Defoe, makes this a groundbreaking day for Toronto FC and for Major League Soccer," said Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president and CEO Tim Leiweke of the clubs signings. A visibly emotional Leiweke said that the investment came down to one question that the team had to ask. "Why cant we be great?" he added. "We didnt win anything today, but we created a great opportunity." Defoe, who will return to Spurs on loan until Feb. 28, spoke highly of the reception hes received so far in Toronto and spoke of his desire to hit the ground running. "I feel at home already," he said. "As players, all you want to do is put your boots on, get out there and let your football do the talking...I feel blessed and honoured and Im looking forward to it so much." Assked if a place on Englands 2014 World Cup squad weighed in on his decision to come to North America, Defoe admitted that playing time was his primary concern.dddddddddddd "Its important to be playing," he explained. "To get into a World Cup or European Cup squad, its based on merit...if selected, Ill be ready." Bradley, whose unveiling was not previously advertised by the club, returns to MLS for the first time since 2005. "I have never been more excited, and more motivated, for any challenge in my career," he said. "What theyre trying to build here in really special, something really unique and different from anywhere else in MLS and North American soccer." The team also announced that working agreements were in place with both Spurs and Roma that would result in both friendlies being played in Toronto and a player exchange with Roma that will result in Toronto FC players training with Roma. With Defoe and Bradley in the fold, Toronto FCs number of designated players stands at four - one more than the league-allowed three. With new Brazilian striker Gilberto signed in the fall, Argentinian midfielder Matias Laba is expected to be the odd man out. Toronto general manager Tim Bezbatchenko confirmed that Laba is still with the club and that a final roster did not have to be submitted until the middle of March. "Well be working through the next steps over the next month and a half," he said. 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