NEW YORK — Ryan Carter broke a tie with 4:24 left, and the New Jersey Devils survived for a 5-3 victory over the New York Rangers after blowing a three-goal lead in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night.
The Devils, who led 3-0 before the first period was half over, have a 3-2 edge in the series and can advance to face the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup finals with a victory at home Friday night. If the Rangers can stay alive then, Game 7 would be back in Madison Square Garden on Sunday.
The Devils seemed primed for an easy victory when Stephen Gionta and Patrik Elias scored within the first 4:13 of the game. Travis Zajac made it 3-0 before the Rangers woke up and began chipping away.
Brandon Prust brought New York within 3-1 before the first period was over, and Ryan Callahan made it a one goal game in the first minute of the second.
The Garden rocked when Marian Gaborik tied it 3-3 just 17 seconds into the third with his first goal of the series, but that was it for the Rangers. Carter put the Devils back in front, and Zach Parise sealed it with an empty-net goal in the closing seconds.
“I thought we probably played our best game of the series tonight,” Rangers Coach John Tortorella said.
Once Gaborik tied it with an unassisted goal that ricocheted in off the skate of goalie Martin Brodeur, it appeared the Rangers would ride the comeback all the way to one of the most stirring victories in team history - one that would rival victories over New Jersey in the classic 1994 East finals.
Carter made sure it didn’t happen.
Ilya Kovalchuk knocked Michael Del Zotto off the puck in the right corner, and Gionta sent a pass in front to Carter - who had just charged in front from the bench - for a quick shot that beat Henrik Lundqvist.
“You have to [keep it together] this time of year,” Gionta said. “You have to have a short memory. Fortunately we did and came out with the victory.”
New Jersey was outshot 28-17 overall and had only six shots in the third period, but two of them went in. Now the Devils are on the verge of their first Cup finals appearance since they won their third title in 2003.
Brodeur who has been the backbone of every Devils championship kept his focus throughout the third period when he was loudly taunted with chants of “Mar-ty, Marty” after New York got even.
The Rangers were ultimately done in by another terrible start. For the 13th consecutive game in these playoffs, the team that scored first in New York’s games hasgone on to win. The Rangers had been on a pattern of win one, lose one, but now they are on the verge of elimination with their second twogame losing streak in a series this year.
The only time the Rangers have won two consecutive in a playoff series is when they overcame a 3-2 hole in the first round and knocked out Ottawa.
NHL playoffs glance CONFERENCE FINALS TUESDAY’S GAME Los Angeles 4, Phoenix 3, OT
Los Angeles wins series 4-1 WEDNESDAY’S GAME New Jersey 5, NY Rangers 3
New Jeresey leads 3-2 FRIDAY’S GAME All times Central NY Rangers at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
SUNDAY’S GAME x-New Jersey at NY Rangers, 7 p.m.
(x-if necessary)
Sports, Pages 21 on 05/24/2012