Devils Net Pair in Third Period, Edge Rangers In Game 5
2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

New York, NY

The New Jersey Devils blew a three-goal lead but bounced back with two crucial goals in the third period to escape the New York Rangers, 5-3, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Devs are just a win away from the Stanley Cup finals.

Ryan Carter delivered a telling blow to the Rangers with his third playoff goal that put the Devils ahead with 4:24 left at Madison Square Garden.

The Devils lead the best-of-seven series, 3-2 lead, and will try to punch their ticket to their first Stanley Cup Final since 2003 Friday at the Prudential Center

Carter went to the net and fired Stephen Gionta's passout from the right corner past Henrik Lundqvist to put New Jersey back in front. Zach Parise hit the empty net for the second straight game to wrap up the win.

Goals by Gionta, Patrik Elias and Travis Zajac in the first period gave the Devils a 3-0 lead but the Rangers answered with goals from Brandon Prust in the first period and Ryan Callahan in the second period.

The Rangers eventually tied the count at 3-all after Marian Gaborik's score early in the third period to turn a potential blowout into a memorable contest.

Martin Brodeur made 25 saves for the Devils while Lundqvist made just 12 saves for the Rangers while allowing allowed four goals in a game for the first time this postseason.

Gionta got the Devils on the board at 2:43 the mark when he jammed home a rebound of Mark Fayne's shot from the right point.

Ninety seconds later, Elias made it 2-0 when a long shot by Adam Henrique tipped off Elias' skate, then hit the skate of Rangers forward Artem Anisimov and slithered past Lundqvist.

Zajac made it 3-0 just right before the midway point of the period when he snapped a hard shot from the right circle past Lundqvist.

Defenseman Bryce Salvador picked up his eighth assist of the postseason on the goal after posting nine in 82 regular-season games.

With a huge deficit staring at them, the Rangers fought their way back, cutting the lead to 3-1 with a goal from Prust.

The Rangers got a goal from Callahan just 32 seconds into the second period to make it 3-2 and Gaborik completed New York's comeback with a goal in the third.