Ryan Carter's goal with 4:26 remaining led the New Jersey Devils to a 5-3 road victory over the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the NHL Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Devilslead the best-of-seven series three games to two, with the Los Angeles Kings waiting to face the winner of the series in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Zach Parise added an empty net goal in the final minute for the Devils to provide the final margin.
The Devils looked like they were going to run away with Game 5 early, scoring three goals in the first 10 minutes of the first period. Stephen Gionta, Patrik Elias, and Travis Zajac all scored against Henrik Lundqvist in the first period to give New Jersey a 3-0 lead.
But the Rangers methodically got back into the game. Brandon Prust scored his first goal of the postseason at 15:43 of the first period to cut the lead to 3-1, then New York added a pair of early goals in the next two periods to tie the score. Ryan Callahan scored 17 seconds into the second period, then Marian Gaborik scored for the Rangers 32 seconds into the third period to tie the score at 3-3.
Martin Brodeur saved 25 of 28 shots for New Jersey, while Lundqvist saved 12 of 16 for the Rangers in defeat.
Game 6 is Friday night in New Jersey.
For more news and notes on the Kings or the NHL Stanley Cup Finals, be sure to check out Jewels From The Crown.
