It’s easy to scapegoat a Ranger for the Blueshirts’ 4-1 loss in Game Two at the hands of the New Jersey Devils.

It would be simple to just point a finger at Sandis Ozolinsh’s careless play or Tom Renney’s “hunch” to put Kevin Weekes in goal.

Heck, it would be just as effortless to blame the backup goalie for the loss.

Yes, that’s the easy way out.

But the truth of the matter is this: The Rangers came into the second game of the series with the deck stacked against them and only a near perfect performance by the Blueshirts would have evened this matchup on Monday night.

Without Jaromir Jagr [upper body], Darius Kasparaitis [groin], Jason Ward [knee], and Henrik Lundqvist [dressed, but resting sore hip], the Rangers were missing their best players for the contest, which gave the Devils the immediate psychological edge. They performed better than Saturday, but still had a deep hole to come out of.

In the end though, it was just too much for the Rangers to overcome.

“The work effort was a lot better tonight," Steve Rucchin, looking more and more like a captain, said. "It's frustrating when the puck doesn't go in. But once again, our special teams let us down. That's two games in a row and that's two losses. It's frustrating sure, but it gives us something to build on. It'll be a great atmosphere at Madison Square Garden. Sure, we're behind the 8-ball a little bit, but there's still a ways to go."

That’s because in this quarterfinal, Game Three will be the key. If the Rangers are able to pull out a win on the Madison Square Garden ice, then it’s a whole new series. With two days off until Game Four, New York can get healthy and try to tie it on Saturday.

But there’s no reason to get too far ahead, because even though the Blueshirts played a better game, the Devils still took advantage of Ranger mistakes, which resulted in two shorthanded goals and a power play score.

Game Two can be considered a step in the right direction, but the Rangers need to have Jagr, Kasparaitis and Lundqvist in the lineup at MSG on Wednesday. They may not be fully healthy, but there is no need to hold back. If the injured Blueshirts are anywhere close, Renney shouldn’t play it cautious. And that includes Martin Rucinsky, if he is close to healthy and can grab a stick. The Rangers should go down with their best lineup, even if the players are not 100 percent.

All these decisions will be on the coach’s plate tomorrow - who by the way, is still the best man for the job and though may take criticism, doesn’t deserve full blame – and those choices won’t come easy, but then again, his job isn’t simple.

Though Ranger Nation may be on edge after last night’s loss, just remember this: Back in 2004, a some small team from the New England area was walloped for 19 runs in Game Three of the ALCS, but then beat the best closer in baseball the next night and came back from an 0-3 deficit to eventually win their first World Series in 86 years.

No one is saying these Rangers are the 2004 Red Sox, but it can be done and if New York can win on Wednesday, anything can happen.

It just won’t be easy.

Additional reporting by Phil Donohue, WOR Radio.