from Steve Serby of the New York Post,

Sorry, but the Jets are not the big story in town with the Rangers playing a Game 6 Thursday night at the Garden against the Canadiens for a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals.

“I hope they make it, I hope they go all the way,” Ryan told The Post.

Ryan got a taste for how the New York metropolitan area embraces winners — not as big a taste as Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning and the Giants have gotten since 2008 — and he understands this latest New York love affair with the Rangers.

“Oh yeah, of course. There’s nothing like it,” Ryan said. “But I think what New York’s embracing about the Rangers is, like obviously the [Marty] St. Louis deal and things, but the courage he showed [following the death of his mother], that was awesome to me. And his teammates I’m sure said the same thing. Nobody needs to say anything, that was impressive. But the guts they showed, they’re down 3-1 against Pittsburgh, and come back and rally and take that series. That was fantastic.”

Ryan is a hockey aficionado from way back.

“Growing up, I was a Ranger fan and a Maple Leaf fan, if that’s possible,” Ryan said. “I lived in Toronto, and my dad [Buddy] was in New York, so that’s kinda how I grew up … Eddie Giacomin, Brad Park — I can give you ‘em all — Walt Tkaczuk, Rod Gilbert, you name ‘em, Jean Ratelle … I could name every one of ‘em.”

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