Given the success road teams have enjoyed in the playoffs, it certainly isn't beyond the realm of possibility for the Rangers to win in Ottawa on Monday night.

Maybe the Senators are over-confident following their 1-0 win at the Garden on Saturday or maybe they'll feel pressure trying to close out the series, which they now lead three games to two, at home.

After pumping 41 shots on goal Saturday, the Rangers may feel they don't need to change anything -- keeping firing on goal and eventually they'll go in.

But we're not so sure. The Rangers looked demoralized following Saturday's loss and Senators goaltender Craig Anderson could be in their head.

The punchless wonders have now gone nearly 114 minutes without scoring. The way the Rangers are struggling offensively, the Senators could start the netminder for the Ottawa 67s junior hockey team and hold them to a goal or two.

Still, New York hopes the return of Carl Hagelin, who has completed his three-game suspension, will boost the sagging offense. But as Hagelin returns, Brian Boyle will be sidelined after getting concussed on a hit by Chris Neil on Saturday.

Rangers coach John Tortorella said the hit was similiar to the one that earned Phoenix's Raffi Torres a 25-game suspension for leveling Chicago's Marian Hossa.

While Neil is not a repeat offender like Torres, the hockey world awaits what kind of discipline is forthcoming as the hits to the head continue.

It also would be nice for the Rangers if the big guns show up, but think about it. As talented as he is, Marian Gaborik has a history of vanishing in big spots, Ryan Callahan isn't a natural goal scorer and neither is Brad Richards.

Sure, Richards won a Cup with Tampa Bay, but he also had Martin St. Louis and Vinny LeCavalier.

A Brandon Dubinsky (no points in the series) sighting also would be welcome.

On Sunday, the Bruins showed the heart of a champion, winning 4-3 in overtime in Washington to force a seventh game after losing at home on Saturday by the same score in game five.

Three times the Capitals erased one-goal deficits, but the Bruins kept answering until Tyler Seguin scored the overtime game-winner.

With the Penguins eliminated and the Rangers and Devils on the verge of a elimination, the path could be widening for another Bruins' trip to the finals.

Monday will show if the Rangers have any championship heart. Either they respond or summer vacation begins much earlier than anticipated.

In t

he 1994 Eastern Conference finals, the Rangers were in this situation against New Jersey and rallied to win the series. Mark Messier guaranteed a win in game six, then went out and scored a hat trick, before Stephane Matteau scored the most famous goal in Rangers' history in double overtime in game seven.

Of course, the Messiah is not going to step on to the ice on Monday night.