A late goal from David Clarkson gave the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night. With the win, the Devils tied the series at 1-1, splitting the opening pair of games on the Rangers' home ice.
All three of the Devils' goals came on deflections, but the team used more than blind luck to earn the win says John Fischer at In Lou We Trust, SB Nation's Devils blog.
While the Devils had the good fortune of two good deflections, they were the better team tonight ... They took more initiative in the first period and to start in the third period. Even after the Rangers surged in the second period, the Devils battled back to only be out-shot 12-9 after being out-shot 6-0 early on. The Devils threw hits, they made plays, and the "jump" was in everyone. The Devils even were superior on faceoffs, winning 32 out of 59. The Devils deserved this win, even if their equalizer and game winner came from two great bounces.
The Rangers claimed the initiative in the second period, but failed to hold on to it in the final period of play. That, says Bryan Winters at Blueshirt Banter, was their undoing.
Everyone was going fine and dandy for the Rangers as they known controlled the game with a 2-1 lead midway through the second. However, nearing the final two minutes of the period, the Rangers were pinned in their own end for some time, and it wound up costing them.
Ryan Carter would wind up tipping home a Bryce Salvador point shot, and the redirection completely fooled Henrik lundqvist. The Devils and Rangers would be all knotted up heading into the third period. Things started, just as they left of for the New Jersey Devils, and they came away with an early goal.
Again, a point shot which was redirected by David Clarkson, changed direction completely and fell in behind Henrik Lundqvist. This definitely wasn't the start the Rangers wanted to the third period, especially after their hard fought effort in the second.
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