If the lockout has you craving hockey, this book will definitely help you through those lonely hockey-less nights. “Battle On The Hudson:The Devils, The Rangers and The NHL’s Greatest Series Ever” by Tim Sullivan gives a great in depth look at the Devils-Rangers rivalry culminating with the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals.

Here is the overview from the book jacket:

The monumental spring 1994 face-off between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers is recaptured in this mesmerizing account. Arguably one of the greatest series in NHL history, it changed the face of hockey in the New York metropolitan area through 27 periods in seven games across 13 days, during which Ranger captain Mark Messier guaranteed a game-six victory. The book presents a definitive portrayal of these two determined teams: the Rangers, an original-six franchise desperate to win their first title in 54 years, and the Devils, the underappreciated new kid from across the Hudson River who feverishly wanted to forge an identity of their own. This in-depth retrospective conducts an unforgettable rollercoaster ride of emotions that lives in the hearts and minds of hockey fans forever.

There is a foreword by Stephane Matteau about that historic Eastern Conference Final which pulls you in from the get go. While the screams of “Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!” still haunt my dreams, this is still a great read for both Devils and Rangers fans. I highly recommend this book and has been a great help in getting me through the lockout. A great gift idea for the Devil or Ranger fan for the holiday season!