Tony Kurdzuk, The Star-Ledger
While The Kings are ruling the Western Final 2-0, and are facing their third match up tonight, the Devils proved last night that they are not going down without a fight against their heated rivals the New York Rangers.
In their first match up, the Rangers came out on top with a shutout win 3-0, but the Devils knew this could not happen again in game two. The Devils knew that in order to win, they had to figure out a way to best Henrik Lundqvist in order to prove why they are worthy of being still in the running for the cup. One of the ways they did this was by getting more shots on goal in the first period. This was where the Rangers beat them in the previous game, and by doing this, the Devils were able to get the first goal of the game.
While Rangers’ Boyle was sitting in the penalty box for a slashing minor, the Devils were given the power play opportunity they needed when Kovalchuk scored the first goal of the game. This gave the Devils the much needed lead to end the first 20 minutes of play.
Catching on, the Rangers got more shots in the second period to successfully beat the Devils at their own game. This was proven by the two PPG goals scored by Staal two minutes in and another by Kreider a little past the half way mark. With the Rangers now leading 2-1, the Devils knew they couldn’t let their victory slip through their fingers. Luckily for the Devils, it didn’t as a tip in goal by Carter tied the game 2-2 at the tail end of the second period.
With only a period left to win it, the Devils were back to outshooting the Rangers. There was another tip-in goal by the Devils early in the period by Clarkson, which gave them the 3-2 lead they needed to win. The majority of the period consisted of the two teams fighting to get another goal in, but both Lundqvist and Brodeur managed to keep all pucks out. The game ended with the 3-2 win for the Devils and ties their series 1-1.
The teams match up again for the third game in Camden on Friday.
