NHL Playoffs 2012: 3 Stars from Game 5 of NJ Devils vs. NY Rangers

The New Jersey Devils surged early and survived to the finish with a 5-3 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals Wednesday night. They did it with the help of some unlikely production from fourth-line grinders and some unlikely physicality from one of their most leaned-on point-getters.

For the Rangers, who erased an initial 3-0 deficit with a goal in each period, only to fall permanently behind late in the third, there were some positive takeaways. They out-shot, out-hit and beat the Devils at the faceoff dot, all by double-digit margins.

Contrary to selections of the metropolitan hockey press corps, which had two Rangers and one Devil as its three stars, it only makes sense to acknowledge at least one more shining performer for New Jersey to go with its extra, decisive red light.

The top troika from Game 5 is as follows in reverse order.

3. Ryan McDonagh

McDonagh trailed only Marc Staal for the most ice time with 25 minutes and 46 seconds. And he used that time to submit one of the night’s more impressive lines on the losing side with a plus-two rating, three hits and six blocked shots.

2. Ilya Kovalchuk

Not only was Ilya Kovalchuk one of four Devils to finish the night with two points and one of two with a plus-two rating in the game, he also took a hit to help make one scoring play and delivered one to make another.

With less than five minutes gone in the first period, in the process of feeding linemate Adam Henrique, Kovalchuk was bumped by Rangers defenseman Anton Stralman. Two seconds later, he had his first assist of the night as Henrique’s shot was tipped in by Patrik Elias, extending the jump-starting Devils’ lead to 2-0.

Later, with less than five minutes left to play in regulation, Kovalchuk engaged backchecker Michael Del Zotto in the corner to the left of the New York net. His hit on Del Zotto helped to loosen the puck, which was picked up by Stephen Gionta and thrust out in front for Ryan Carter to rake in to the right of Henrik Lundqvist.

Kovalchuk was not credited with his second assist on that play, but rather on Zach Parise’s empty-net insurance tally. But his contribution to Carter’s game-winner cannot be overlooked.

1. Stephen Gionta

Of the Devils' skaters, only Carter and Steve Bernier had less ice time. And in his allotted 9:49 of action, Gionta mostly picked up one of everything, including one shot on goal, one hit and a plus-one rating.

But he also tallied a goal and an assist, each at critical moments in the game. He opened the scoring and the first New Jersey lead of the night a mere 2:43 into the action.

He later had a hand in spawning the Devils’ second and permanent lead when, as described in the previous slide, he thrust a centering feed for Carter to convert.