Devils break tie in third period to tie series in Game 2

2011-12 Playoff Game No. 16; Home Game No. 10	Series Tied 1-1
VIDEO: CALLAHAN, GABORIK POSTGAME
• Full Highlights | Highlight of the Game | Tortorella  | Staal and Hagelin		• Melrose CU Save of Game

GAME RECAP Associated Press David Clarkson scored a tip-in goal off Adam Henrique's shot 2:31 into the third period to break a tie and lift the New Jersey Devils to a 3-2 victory over the Rangers that squared the Eastern Conference Final series at one game apiece on Wednesday night. For the third straight series, the Rangers dropped Game 2 after they took the opener. They stressed how important it would be to grab a 2-0 lead, which would have been their first two-game edge in this postseason, but were unable to get it done. The Blueshirts were riding high after their 3-0 series-opening win on Monday night, but now have relinquished home-ice advantage again. Game 3 will be Saturday in New Jersey. Clarkson built off the momentum created by Ryan Carter's deflected goal late in the second that tied the game, 2-2. Ilya Kovalchuk had given the Devils a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal in the first. Defenseman Bryce Salvador added two assists, and Martin Brodeur stopped 23 saves for his 108th playoff win. Clarkson has three goals in this postseason, and every one has been a winner, including the clincher against Philadelphia in Game 5 of the second round. New Jersey had 26 attempted shots blocked in Game 1, five more than they got through to goalie Henrik Lundqvist. The Devils cut the blocks to 16 on Wednesday and managed to get 27 on goal - two more than New York. Marc Staal and Chris Kreider scored power-play goals in the second for the top-seeded Rangers, who received 24 saves from Lundqvist. • COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STAT OF THE GAME With his power-play goal in the second period, Chris Kreider tied the NHL record for most playoff goals and points by a player who has never skated in a regular season game, with four goals and six points in postseason action. Kreider has registered three points (two goals, one assist) in the last two games, and is now tied for the lead among league rookies (11th overall) in goals (four) and ranks third in points (six). THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. Kreider 2. Staal 3. Prust

---

THE BIGGER PICTURE This was yet another one-goal loss in a playoff run with no shortage of them. Remember that te Rangers bounced back from a 3-2 loss to Ottawa in Game 2 and a 3-2 loss to Washington in Game 2. They will likely bounce back from this 3-2 loss, too.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- Staal (27:26) Shots -- Four players tied (3) Hits -- Callahan, McDonagh (5) Blocks -- McDonagh (8) Takeaways -- Staal (2) Faceoffs -- Richards, Stepan (20)

NEW YORK RANGERS' GAME 2 LINEUP VS. NEW JERSEY
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Carl Hagelin	Brad Richards	Marian Gaborik
Chris Kreider	Derek Stepan	Ryan Callahan
Artem Anisimov	Brian Boyle	Ruslan Fedotenko
Mike Rupp	John Mitchell	Brandon Prust

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Marc Staal	Anton Stralman
Michael Del Zotto	Stu Bickel
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, Staal, Del Zotto, Hagelin, Richards, Gaborik.

POWER PLAY UNITS
FORWARD LINES
Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Ryan Callahan	Brad Richards	Marian Gaborik
Chris Kreider	Derek Stepan	Carl Hagelin

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Anton Stralman
Marc Staal	Dan Girardi

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
FORWARD UNITS
Forward	Forward
Brandon Prust	Brian Boyle
Fedotenko/Callahan	Derek Stepan

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Marc Staal	Michael Del Zotto