61*.
No, not as in Billy Crystal’s cinematic ode to Roger Maris’ 61 home runs in 1961 as the Rangers embark on a two-game set at Yankee Stadium (no, not the one in which the Rajah broke the Babe’s record, but the one across the street) beginning Sunday afternoon against the Devils and concluding Wednesday night against the Islanders.
But rather, in recognition of Rick Nash, who will skate into The Bronx cold wearing that number 61 on his back as the NHL’s hottest goal-scorer, with five in his last three games, six in his last four, and 10 in his last 10 matches.
Nash, who leads the Blueshirts with 17 goals in 36 games, is the first Ranger to get at least 10 in a 10-game stretch since Jaromir Jagr struck for 13 in a 10-game span from Jan. 24-March 2, 2006 on his way to a franchise record 54-goal season.
Perhaps the league should present a home-run derby between New York’s No. 61 and Jagr (now New Jersey’s No. 68) between periods with Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur serving up batting practice pitches to their respective teammates.
The Blueshirts and Devils will practice on the Stadium rink Saturday afternoon as a prelude to their match that, stuck in the middle of a season in which both clubs are scratching for points and playoff berths and coming one day after Saturday night’s much-more hyped game at Dodger Stadium between the Kings and Ducks, has not been especially hyped.
This weekend’s matches will mark the ninth and 10th NHL outdoor games since the Oilers and Canadiens met in frigid Edmonton in the 2003 Heritage Classic. The match in Los Angeles is, of course, unique, but the first eight featured more of a simple, grinding style because the ice isn’t conducive to finesse-oriented play.
That should fit right into the Devils’ wheelhouse while also benefitting the Rangers, who get into trouble when they begin with the 40-foot passes. The conditions might be a detriment to the Islanders’ John Tavares-Thomas Vanek-Kyle Okposo unit on Wednesday.
The Rangers tend to low-key everything as a matter of routine, so it’s no surprise there has been little talk in the room of playing in the pinstriped bowl. The team was off on Friday following Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Blues at the Garden that represented a second straight regulation defeat.
“It’s tough to talk about it after a loss like that,” Ryan Callahan said. “But it is something you look forward to and something you enjoy.”
Callahan is one of 10 Rangers who played in the 3-2 victory over the Flyers in the 2012 Winter Classic that was played at the Phillies’ ballpark. He opened that game on a unit with current linemates Brad Richards—who scored the winning goal early in the third period — and Carl Hagelin, though Brandon Dubinsky moved up at times to take Hagelin’s spot.
Brian Boyle, the Bostonian who is a notorious Red Sox fan, heard last week that the Kings wore blue Dodgers-themed jerseys in warm-ups prior to their match on Jan. 13.
Boyle immediately sought out club equipment manager Acacio Marques.
“Cas, we’re not wearing any pinstriped uniforms, are we?” the center wanted to know.
Assured that would not be the case, Boyle sniffed.
“Good,” he said, “because I wouldn’t wear one of those.”
Lundqvist, who famously denied Daniel Briere on a penalty shot on a questionable, if not utterly bogus, call with 19.6 seconds remaining to preserve the victory in the Winter Classic, may opt to wear pinstriped pads on Sunday if he feels comfortable in them during practice.
“Yankee Stadium is such a special place, I think, and organization, and there’s so much history,” Lundqvist said. “So for me to, I almost want to say, to show some respect for what they’ve done over the years for so many years, it’s kind of fun to have that opportunity to do that, and hopefully the fans love it, too.”
Lundqvist will wear a special Yankees-themed mask featuring the images of icons Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio. The 31-year-old Swede told The Post he had asked friends of his who know baseball for guidance on Yankees history and thereafter did research on Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio.
He was asked whether he had ever heard of Mickey Mantle.
“Mickey Mantle?” King Henrik repeated. “No. I don’t know who he is.”