Blue Notes

9:41

And it's on to OT... If the Rangers can avoid the penalty box, can't see how they won't break through here. Carrying the play and the Devils can't seem to generate anything without the aid of a power play.

9:39

Big drive by Girardi, good save by Brodeur. Rangers are controlling the 4 on 4.

9:34

Brodeur gets kicked in the head by Callahan, who was on his way down, so there's no call. White and Avery square off a bit, go off with minors. Brodeur's fine it seems. Four-on-four, 2:36 left in regulation.

9:28

There's the break the Devils could need. Straka, noted goon, for boarding... Travis Zajac takes off his cloak of invisibility long enough to dive head-first into the boards. Eighth PP for the Devils, 6:59 left.

9:21

More chances off monster rebounds. Straka and Dubinsky both clang shots off Brodeur's head, and he isn't trying to stop them that way like Lundqvist does on occasion.

9:16

What a rebound Brodeur serves up there off the shot by Hollweg. Can't say Marty's at the top of his game.

9:12

Gomez lets Gionta stand alone to the side of the net, but Lundqvist gives nothing away. 16:43 left.

9:10

Good chances in front for Callahan after a shaky rebound from Brodeur... Time to start tossing pucks from everywhere for the Rangers.

9:07

Jagr out for the PP to start the third... And another faceoff win by Dubinsky sets up the tying goal, by the rookie. Kid held his ground in front and the Devs were out of sync after Pandolfo lost his stick, Jagr charges the net, puck skips out and Dubinsky scores on the backhand. 3-3, good period to come.

Three assists for Jagr.

8:48

No Jagr for the last shift of the second, and a quiet end to the period after the Devils get their breaks and convert. And a gift for the Rangers at the close of the period, with Elias getting called for roughing. Sets up a chance for the Rangers to pull themselves together at the start of the third.

8:42

Another weak penalty call -- Rozsival this time, high-sticking the diminutive Parise -- and Parise rolls a backhand into, up and over Lundqvist. Two PPGs for the Devils and a 3-2 lead, sucking some of the life out of the building.

And the Madden line keeps the Rangers penned in, with Backman taking a tripping penalty.

8:34

Tyutin makes a dumb play, but it's still a shock to see that closing-the-hand-on-the-puck call... And the Devils finally capitalize. Elias closed HIS hand on the puck, but he didn't throw it -- his wrist shot from the slot beats Lundqvist, 2-2 with 7:04 left in the second. Too much standing around by the PK there.

8:31

Rupp trying to kick-start his slowly dying team, jabbing at the puck after the whistle. Callahan dives right in. Kid is playing with some serious jam tonight.

8:26

During the TV timeout, Jagr was on the ice, testing what appears to be a tight groin. We'll see if it hampers him. He's out for his shift now.

8:21

Avery can do no wrong now. First, he sets up in front of Brodeur and creats a new kind of screen -- he was face-guarding Brodeur, waving his stick and hands in front of the goalie. Wild.

Then, he faces the net and stuffs in Gomez's pass. 2-1 Rangers. And Lundqvist follows with his best save of the night, stopping Pandolfo on a shorthanded 2 on 1.

8:19

And an even bigger opportunity now, with Salvador batting the puck over the glass. Two-man advantage for 1:50. Shoot, shoot, shoot.

8:17

Guess you have to call that silly hit by Vishnevski, but still. It's hockey, and playoff hockey at that. Rangers have a big opportunity here on the PP.

8:15

Drury can't clear, but Madden gets way too cute in front on the Devils PP and they still have zero shots with the man advantage.

8:12

Callahan has a great shift, creating two good scoring chances, then gets whistled for "high-sticking" Clarkson... Clearly, if you just grab your face when a stick clips you, you'll get a call. This game on Lifetime or Vs.?

7:53

No shots for the Devils over the final 11 minutes, and no chances either. Devils can say they were strong those first two games at home and had some bad breaks, but tonight, they got the break (video review for the goal) and a couple weak penalty calls, and they're lucky to be tied.

Dubinsky is having a night, with the goal and some key faceoff wins over Madden. Rangers' fourth line recovered from a bad shift on the Devils goal to force the play. And Brodeur looked a little soft on that goal.

All adds up to Jersey needing a big spark and another break in the second.

7:49

Terrible call by ref Mike Hasenfratz on Avery -- Brodeur's outside the crease and they didn't touch. Devs could get something back here... Except Don Van Massenhoven gives it back with a suspect call on Parise. When did officiating get so bad?

7:45

Devils are getting shakier in the neutral zone and their own zone -- Colin White stinks, my friends. Just stinks. Clarkson's been their best player by far over the last 10 minutes.

Rangers are getting smarter and stronger, meanwhile. Matter of time here.

7:39

Win faceoffs, score goals. Dubinsky beats Madden again, and Brodeur starts scrambling after he nearly drops Mara's wrist shot behind him. Dubinsky hustles, spins and beats Brodeur. 1-1, Colin White playing the puck like a live grenade again in his own zone.

7:37

Is Drury ever going to win a faceoff from Madden again? Egad. Dubinsky beats Madden there, and Brodeur stops Mara's blast.

7:30

So much for that PP -- Shanahan gets whistled for a borderline hook on Paul Martin after 12 seconds. Rangers are shooting themselves in the boots here.

7:28

Rangers get their first PP with some work by the fourth line, Sjostrom in particular. Devs PP was awful, as usual, and killed their momentum. Good save by Brodeur on Paul Mara on the delayed penalty call, but a juicy rebound left unfinished there.

7:23

Backman leaves Parise all alone in front and has to take a cross-checking penalty. Devs could grab hold of this one.

7:20

Goal, 1-0 Devils. Sloppiness from the Rangers' fourth line. After a flying start, Rangers trail for the first time in the series.

7:19

Overhead cam shows it did hit Brylin's skate, but it didn't look deliberate... I still say goal.

7:17

Brylin's goal waved off 3:01 in, but that's going to count. Brylin tried to kick it but it appears Blair Betts' stick swiped it behind Lundqvist. Betts committed the giveaway to set up good chances for Rupp and then Clarkson. It'll be 1-0 Devils in a moment.

7:15

Jagr back with Dubinsky and Straka, with the Madden-Gionta-Pandolfo line matched. Pandolfo was the one who shadowed Jagr in the 06 playoffs, remember. Rangers use the last change to put the Gomez-Avery-Shanahan line out.

7:14

Callahan creates the first good chance, blocking a shot by Oduya and racing down the ice. Save by Brodeur, Dawes can't bat the rebound out of the air into an open net. Another odd-man rush for that trio a few seconds later, Drury's one-timer goes wide.

7:11

Little gamesmanship to start -- Jagr with Avery and Gomez to start. Devils go with Elias between Zubrus and Clarkson, changed up D pair too for Jersey -- Salvador with Colin White.

6:50

Staple back to blog the playoff game... And remember who's bringing you this thing, people. Zipay doesn't need any extra praise.

Rangers lineup is the same. Vitaly Vishnevski steps in on D for the Devils in place of Andy Greene. See the usual smattering of red jerseys... And one Boston University No. 18 jersey, Drury on the back. Nice work.

Back with the puck drop in 15.