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Guest9184
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 Posted - 05/21/2012 : 20:07:51
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NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur has heard the cat calls and has graciously dealt with all the naysayers who claim he may have lost a step or two since the good old days.
But, make no mistake, the fire in those veins still percolates in the heat of battle.
That was quite evident on Monday in Game 4 against the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final, when he turned aside 28 shots to help lead the Devils to a 4-1 victory at the Prudential Center. The Devils received first-period goals by Bryce Salvador and Travis Zajac before captain Zach Parise scored twice in the third, including one into an empty net, to even this best-of-seven series, 2-2.
In addition to notching the 109th playoff victory over his career, Brodeur also notched his fourth assist of the playoffs -- the most by any goalie in a postseason -- and showed plenty of discipline 6:18 into the third after taking an unprovoked left-handed fist to the chest from former teammate Mike Rupp with his team holding a 3-0 lead. The punch triggered a chain of scuffles on the ice and yet another war of choice words from Devils coach Pete DeBoer and Rangers coach John Tortorella. The coaches were actually leaning over their respective benches, pointing at each other.
The Devils will now look to take their first lead in the series on Wednesday, when Game 5 is staged before another packed house at Madison Square Garden.
Rupp, who seemed agitated that a penalty wasn't called during his shift, received four minutes for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct for his infraction. Ryan Carter and Stu Bickel each received two minutes for roughing and 10-minute misconducts.
Brodeur, who was making his 186th straight playoff start, had his shutout bid snapped 13:55 into the third when Ruslan Fedotenko connected for his first of the playoffs.
By that time, however, the Devils had already did most of the damage.
Parise's power-play goal 2:41 into the third gave the home team a 3-0 advantage. Adam Henrique won an offensive-zone draw to Ilya Kovalchuk, who snapped a quick shot on Lundqvist. Parise, who was too upset to speak with the media following his team's 3-0 loss in Game 3 on Saturday, then jammed home the rebound to notch his first goal in six games. Parise would hit into an empty net with 1:29 remaining and the Rangers pressing.
Parise, who was certainly a man on a mission in Game 4, finished with two goals and one assist.
Unlike their Game 3 performance, when they dropped a 3-0 decision following a poor third-period performance, the Devils provided a full 60-minute assault on Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers' goaltender finished with 26 saves, but it wasn't enough.
Tortorella benched defenseman Michael Del Zotto after one shift totaling 1:40 in the second period after a horrible giveaway to David Clarkson. Del Zotto would ultimately return to action in the third.
Despite the move, the Rangers appeared to pick up the pace and actually outshot the Devils, 11-9, in the middle period. Brodeur, however, was there every time.
New York's Chris Kreider had a great look from the left circle at 5:34 when his slap shot was turned away by Brodeur's left pad. Marian Gaborik had another good opportunity at 9:31 off a snap shot from 30 feet away, but Brodeur ate that up as well for a stoppage.
The Devils came out of the gate flying in the opening 20 minutes, receiving goals from Salvador and Zajac, while not allowing a shot on goal until 9:39 remained. The third line of Alexei Ponikarovsky, Jacob Josefson and David Clarkson certainly provided plenty of energy in not only jump-starting the team, but the hometown faithful.
The Ponikarovsky-Josefson-Clarkson line accounted of three of New Jersey's 12 shots in the first.
Salvador's third goal of the postseason came off a harmless-looking wrist shot from the top of the left circle that beat a screened Lundqvist at the 8:10 mark. Ponikarovsky collected a pass from Clarkson along the half boards before dishing to Salvador at the point.
Salvador, who now has nine points in 16 playoff games, had nine points in 82 regular season games.
The first goal on home ice for the Devils in this series was followed by the first fight at 9:26 when Henrique dropped the gloves with Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh in front of Lundqvist.
Zajac would extend the Devils lead to 2-0 at 11:59 when he converted a picturesque 2-on-1 with Parise for his first goal in seven games. Parise beat Del Zotto along the right-wing boards before skating into the right circle and feathering a pass underneath Dan Girardi to Zajac at the left hash.
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Shepsky
Rookie
Canada
211 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2012 : 04:11:34
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are you trying to get a job with TSN or something?
Every day is a great day for hockey
-Mario Lemieux |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2012 : 05:16:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Shepsky
are you trying to get a job with TSN or something?
Every day is a great day for hockey
-Mario Lemieux
What, you actually think the guest wrote this himself?!?
To quote from "Planes, Trains and Automobiles",
. . . "and here's a tip: when your telling a story? Have a POINT."
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2012 : 08:51:11
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I never understand why guys cut and paste an article with no thoughts or opinions of their own? We can all go onto NHL.com, Yahoo, etc and read this type of game summary. PUH is not the place i come to find these things?
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2012 : 09:00:03
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In some cases, burning out and fading away are one and the same. Neither is better than the other.
If you let it die, it will die...........
Daniel Alfredsson is the MVP of the universe. All hail the Ottawa Senators!!!!! |
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Brodeur, Parise help Devils even series 
