NHL Playoffs 2012: The New Jersey Devils Bounce Back with a 3-2 Win over NYR

The New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 on Wednesday to tie their Eastern Conference Championship series at one game apiece. The Devils showed quite a bit of fire in their Game 2 victory, showing the Rangers that they aren’t to be overlooked.

Ilya Kovalchuk netted the first goal of the game on a power play, giving the Devils a 1-0 lead just over halfway through the first period.

Marc Staal and Chris Kreider each scored power play goals in the second period to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead. Ryan Carter answered those two goals with less than two minutes left in the period to tie the game for the Devils.

In the end, it was David Clarkson’s tip in goal two and a half minutes into the third period that would prove to be the game winner.

The Rangers went on to spend the rest of the period playing catch up, but the Devils only allowed them eight shots on Martin Brodeur in the third, preventing the Rangers from running away with the game like they did in Game 1.

Brodeur proved to be quite the game changing goaltender. He made incredible saves against the likes of Michael Del Zotto and Marian Gaborik, to only name two. Of the 18 shots he faced during even strength play, Brodeur saved all of them. It was only during the man advantage that the Rangers’ scorers could break through the Canadian veteran.

That said, the Devils definitely need to play with more discipline if they want to be able to win this series. In two games, the Devils have given the Rangers eight power play opportunities. The Rangers have converted on three of those advantages.

As close as Game 2 proved, any goal could end up being a game winner between these two.

After being shut out in Game 1, the Devils bounced back nicely. Come Saturday, they’ll look to take a 2-1 lead in the series as they bring it back to New Jersey.