Brodeur, Parise Power Devils Past Rangers; Knot Series 2-2
2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

Newark, NJ

Goalie Martin Brodeur defied his age while captain Zach Parise had two goals to lift the New Jersey Devils past the New York Rangers, 4-1 and tied the Eastern Conference finals series at 2-2, at the Prudential Center.

The 40-year-old Brodeur stopped 27 shots while Bryce Salvador and Travis Zajac scored early before Parise took over in the third, scoring twice, including one into an empty goal from an assist by Brodeur.

Game 5 is at Madison Square Garden.

Brodeur had a chance to clinch his 25th career playoff shutout but Ruslan Fedotenko scored with five minutes left in the game.

Aside from clinching his 109th career playoff victory, Brodeur also notched his fourth assist of the playoffs -- the most by any goalie in a postseason.

He also remained calm and collected after taking an unprovoked left-handed fist to the chest from former teammate Mike Rupp, six minutes into the third with the Devils leading, 3-0.

Rupp, who seemed agitated that a penalty wasn't called during his shift, received four minutes for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct for his infraction.

The punch almost triggered a free-for-all brawl and resulted in an exchange of words from Devils coach Pete DeBoer and Rangers coach John Tortorella.

The Devils were aggressive right from the opening buzzer, unleashing a full 60-minute assault on Henrik Lundqvist, who finished with 26 saves but couldn't stop New Jersey.

The Devils came out of the gate flying in the opening 20 minutes, receiving goals from Salvador and Zajac.

Salvador's third goal of the postseason came off a harmless-looking wrist shot from the top of the left circle. Zajac extended the Devils' lead to 2-0 with a goal at the 11:59 mark from a Parise assist.