Devils' win sets stage for pivotal Game 5 at Garden

2011-12 Playoff Game No. 18; Road Game No. 8	Series tied 2-2
VIDEO: TORTORELLA POSTGAME
• Full Highlights | Highlight of the Game | Lundqvist | Callahan and Stepan		• Melrose CU Save of Game

GAME RECAP Associated Press Martin Brodeur made 27 saves as the New Jersey Devils defeated the Rangers 4-1 on Monday night in Game 4 to even the Eastern Conference Finals at 2-2. Zach Parise had two goals and an assist and Bryce Salvador and Travis Zajac beat Henrik Lundqvist less than four minutes apart in the first period in a series where the intensity and the emotions are picking up. Brodeur even notched an assist in the third, on Parise's empty netter, capping a game in which the Devils maintained their composure and bounced back from a 3-0 shutout in Game 3, while the Rangers took several uncharacteristic penalties. Game 5 is Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. This game was one where the chippiness increased with each period. The Rangers'Marc Staal whacked Patrik Elias in the back of the knee with his stick in the second. Ryan Callahan, the Rangers captain, and New Jersey's Ilya Kovalchuk tussled. And finally, Rupp, a former Devil who scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal for New Jersey in 2003, jabbed Brodeur in his crease in the third after a stoppage in play. That almost set off a free-for-all among the players on the ice, especially after Brodeur reacted like he had been hit by a roundhouse right.  The Rupp punch came about four minutes after Parise scored on a power play to give New Jersey a 3-0 lead. Ruslan Fedotenko ruined Brodeur's bid for his 25th career playoff shutout with just over five minutes to play. The Rangers pulled Lundqvist, who had shut out the Devils in Games 1 and 3, with less than three minutes to play, and Brodeur made two outstanding saves to keep it a two-goal game. • COMMENT ON BLUESHIRTS UNITED | PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTO OF THE GAME STATS OF THE GAME Game 4 marked the first time the Rangers allowed more than three goals in a contest during the 2012 playoffs. The Blueshirts tied an NHL record by holding their opponents to three goals or less in 17 consecutive games to begin the postseason. In addition, Ruslan Fedotenko scored his first goal of the playoffs. In each of the last two playoff years that he has scored a goal, his team has gone on to win the Stanley Cup. THREE STARS (selected by newyorkrangers.com) 1. Fedotenko 2. Rupp 3. Richards

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THE BIGGER PICTURE The one trait this Rangers team has displayed throughout the regular season and playoffs is an ability to shake off losses and immediately bounce back with wins-- just as the Devils did in this one. Home ice will be a big help bouncing back in Game 5.

RANGERS LEADERS Icetime -- Staal (23:32) Shots -- Gaborik (5) Hits -- Fedotenko (3) Blocks -- Stepan, Eminger (2) Takeaways -- Four players tied (1) Faceoffs -- Richards, Stepan (19)

NEW YORK RANGERS' GAME 4 LINEUP AT 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	Stu Bickel

DEFENSE PAIRINGS
Left Defense	Right Defense
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi
Marc Staal	Anton Stralman
Michael Del Zotto	Steve Eminger
Goaltenders: Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Biron Starting Lineup: Lundqvist, McDonagh, Girardi, Kreider, Stepan, Callahan.

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

POINT MEN
Left Point	Right Point
Michael Del Zotto	Anton Stralman
Ryan McDonagh	Dan Girardi

PENALTY KILLING UNITS
FORWARD UNITS
Forward	Forward
Ryan Callahan	Hagelin/Richards/Boyle
Ruslan Fedotenko	Mitchell/Anisimov/Stepan

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