EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Linval Joseph is listed at 6-foot-4 and 323 pounds, just the right size for an NFL nose tackle. The player Joseph looked up to while learning how to play in the middle of the line in high school and college was Pat Williams, and now his career has come full circle. Joseph has joined the Minnesota Vikings, who havent been able to match the moxie and production Williams provided at the position since the big man retired after the 2010 season. "Pat was a physical guy. He liked to slam guys. I watched him a lot," said Joseph, who finalized a five-year contract with the Vikings on Wednesday. Williams was picked for three Pro Bowls in his six seasons with the Vikings. They allowed the fewest yards rushing in the league for three straight years in that span, 2006 through 2008, and the oversized, popular, colorful Williams had much to do with that. "He wanted to show that hes an all-time great. He had something to prove from where he started to where he finished," Joseph said, adding: "He was just loved around here. And I want to be the same way." Joseph started 46 of 48 games for the New York Giants while averaging 55 tackles and three sacks over the last three seasons and won a Super Bowl with them, too. The 25-year-old was a second-round draft pick in 2010 out of East Carolina. He grew up in Florida after his family moved from the Virgin Islands. The Giants made him an offer, but he said "it was nowhere near" what the Vikings gave him. According to ESPN, Josephs deal has a maximum value of $31.5 million. Oakland and Atlanta also were interested. But Minnesota was his first choice. Joseph said he sees playing for new Vikings coach Mike Zimmer like his experience with the Giants and Tom Coughlin, another noted hard-nosed NFL head coach. "I can tell hes straightforward and hes defensive-minded and he wants to win," Joseph said of Zimmer. The Vikings also finalized one-year contracts on Wednesday with middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley and offensive lineman Joe Berger. Given the new deal they gave Everson Griffen this week and the extension they handed Brian Robison last year, the Vikings have secured three of the starting front four with contracts valuing more than $100 million combined at maximum worth. Those three will account for close to 15 per cent of the $133 million salary cap in 2014. They might not spending money on the line, either. According to a person with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Vikings have not publicized any visits by free agents yet, former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton will be at Winter Park on Thursday to meet with team officials. Melton made the Pro Bowl with six sacks in 2012, but he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the third game of last season. 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The Rangers posted a 4-1 win in the opener of the best-of-seven series Thursday at Madison Square Garden, giving New York nine straight wins against Philadelphia at home. The clubs last loss in this series at MSG was back on Feb. 20, 2011. The Flyers hope to break their slump in Manhattan on Sunday before the series heads to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4. The Rangers were 0-2 in Philly this season and have lost in their past three trips to the City of Brotherly Love. New York controlled play for most of Game 1, but the score was tied 1-1 heading into the third period. The Rangers, however, seized a golden opportunity when Philadelphias Jason Akeson drew blood on a high stick against Carl Hagelin, resulting in a four-minute power play for the home team at 7:35 of the final period. The Blueshirts scored twice off Akesons double minor, with Brad Richards scoring at 8:22 and Derek Stepan converting just 47 second later. Richards posted a goal and two assists while Hagelin, Stepan and Mats Zuccarello all lit the lamp for New York, which also got two assists from late-season addition Martin St. Louis. Henrik Lundqvist, meanwhile, only needed to stop 14 shots to pick up the win. "I think we controlled play, didnt give them much," said Richards. "There was no other thought than to keep controlling the puck and keep trying to get it behind them. In a series sometimes having the puck and wearing them out can benefit you later in the game.&quuot; With a three-point performance in Game 1, Richards already has tripled his production from last seasons postseason when he had one assist in 10 games.dddddddddddd Andrew MacDonald scored the only goal of the game for the Flyers, who played with Ray Emery in goal due to an injury to No. 1 option Steve Mason. Emery will get the call again in Game 2 with Cal Heeter serving as the backup, as Mason isnt ready to return from an upper-body injury suffered April 12 against Pittsburgh. Emery played well in defeat on Thursday, stopping 32-of-36 shots. The veteran netminder fell to 20-16 in his postseason career. "Weve got to win one in here and wed like to have that one but well be refocused for the next one," said Emery. "Were confident that if we play the way that we can play we can take them." Philadelphia head coach Craig Berube is looking for a much better effort from his top line in Game 2, as Claude Giroux, Scott Hartnell and Jakub Voracek combined for just two shots in the loss. Hartnell registered both shots and also assisted on MacDonalds goal "They didnt produce," Berube said. "They didnt shoot pucks, they didnt get shots on net, didnt get an attack." Giroux, who finished third in the NHL with 86 points this season, only had two assists in four regular-season games against the Rangers in 2013-14. This series marks the first time these rivals are meeting in the playoffs since the 1997 Eastern Conference Finals, which the Flyers won in five games. Philadelphia has won six of the 10 playoff series against the Rangers, including three straight. Game 3 is scheduled for Tuesday in Philadelphia, with the four meeting set for Friday. ' ' '