This may not have been the Front Page Series of 1979 when the Rangers took out the first-overall Islanders in the Stanley Cup semifinals that earned a "VICTORY" banner headline in The Post.
And as a cultural reference in a sign of the times, one of the sub-heads noted that the Rangers celebrated their victory at Studio 54, and perhaps Ron Duguay would like to speak to that during one of his segments on MSG.
No, I wouldn't think so.
But if it was not 1979 at the Coliseum last night, the Rangers and Islanders could party like it's 2013 with both on their way to the postseason ball.
Both teams are closer to the postseason following the Blueshirts' pulsating 1-0 overtime victory in a game that matched, if not even exceeded, all of the hype that preceded it.
NHL STANDINGS
No, it's true. Neither of these clubs — the Islanders in seventh, with a one-point lead over the eighth-place Rangers, who have a two-point lead over the ninth-place Jets and a game in hand on both teams sandwiching them in the standings — will be a top-half seed in the first round.
But these clubs played a game of top-shelf hockey in front a rabid crowd mainly of Islanders fans as hungry as their team for a trip to the postseason.
This was tight and taut from the outset through the 64th minute, when Dan Girardi converted a delicious backhand feed from Derick Brassard by picking the top corner at 3:11 to make Henrik Lundqvist a 1-0 winner in his very first shutout of the season.
The Rangers erupted, mobbing Girardi, one and all, those who were on the ice, and the rest of them spilling off the bench in a celebration worthy of a playoff game.
"The whole team jumping on me, that was pretty cool," Girardi said. "I'm not going to lie to you."
The whole team included The King, who went the length of the ice to join the mob scene after a 29-save performance that including several sizzling stops while his team was pinned in for shifts at a time, especially so in the third period when the Rangers were held without a shot for the final 15:59.
"It's a long skate," Lundqvist said. "It was fun to play in this game, a lot of fun, and with a great atmosphere.
"To see the puck go in, it was really exciting. And a big relief."
The whole team also included Brassard, leaned upon by coach John Tortorella throughout, his 19:22 of ice fourth among forwards in his first taste of the Battle of New York just 10 days after arriving from Columbus.
"I've never played a game like that before," Brassard said. "Honestly, it was really fun to be a part of."
Honestly is the way Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic, who sparred throughout with (and perhaps speared) Rick Nash, described his feelings about the defeat, loser's point notwithstanding.
"Kick me in the [groin]," he said. "As a player, you want a stage like that and you want an opportunity to have a chance to show yourself and battle as a team.
"It's upsetting the way it ended, but I think we played pretty good. But we'll swallow this pretty big pill and move forward."
The Islanders, 8-1-2 over their past 11, had nothing but the result over which to hang their heads. If ever a team could sustain momentum from a defeat, it's this team out of this defeat.
The Rangers, 5-1-1 in their past seven, seem to have found themselves, and just in time.
"It's April and there's a lot to remind us of last year," Girardi said.
It's April of 2013, and at the Coliseum there was a lot to remind everyone of some of the best days of the Battle of New York.
larry.brooks@nypost.com
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