The Eastern Conference final has now entered a new dimension of malevolence. The New Jersey Devils survived a gritty scrap with the New York Rangers to win 4-1 and tie the best-of-seven series 2-2 going into Wednesday’s Game 5 at Madison Square Garden (8 p.m., ET NBC Sports Network). STORY: Parise’s big night ties series [...]

After getting thumped 3-0 Saturday at home, captain Zach Parise had two goals and an assist to help the Devils rebound Monday with a 4-1 win against the Rangers that ties the best-of-seven series 2-2. “I knew he would respond,” Devils coach Peter DeBoer said of Parise. “I knew it was a matter of time. [...]

That would be them. “We definitely want to play better than we did in Game 4, but we’ve been playing good hockey,” Kings captain Dustin Brown says. “We’re a pretty confident group, and we all believe we can be better in Game 5.” COLUMN: Shane Doan showcases leadership Game 5 is Tuesday night, and the [...]

Backed by a textbook performance from goaltender Mike Smith and a memorable effort by captain Shane Doan in a Game 4 victory against the Los Angeles Kings, the hope that this team could sneak out of a 3-0 deficit was reinforced. But the situation remains grim entering Game 5 (9 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network). [...]

After getting thumped 3-0 Saturday at home, captain Zach Parise had two goals and an assist to help the Devils rebound Monday with a 4-1 win against the Rangers that ties the best-of-seven series 2-2. “I knew he would respond,” Devils coach Peter DeBoer said of Parise. “I knew it was a matter of time. [...]

Josefson hasn’t played since April 3, and he’s replacing Petr Sykora, who has no points in the first three games of the series. “I had a brief conversation with him (Sunday),” DeBoer said. “(I said) just get in, bring us some energy, play like you did the last three, four weeks of the season. He’s [...]

By Jim McIsaac, Getty Images Brandon Prust, left, thought that Anton Volchenkov might have been trying to sell a penalty when he fell to the ice. Article source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomNhl-TopStories/~3/1vxistBOB1A/1

Behind that easy-going demeanor, the warmth had left his eyes and a cartoon plume of smoke over his head followed him everywhere. So Doan did what he does best. He led the charge against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday at Staples Center, his stick a defibrillator paddle that sparked life back into this series. [...]

This remarkable. The Los Angeles Kings, who might soon be the only tenant left playing at Staples, actually lost a game. The Kings, who are doing their best to make L.A. a hockey town while the Lakers and Clippers flounder in the NBA playoffs, had won eight playoff games in a row and 11 of [...]

Alexander Semin of the Washington Capitals scored two goals and had an assist in the rout. Russia scored three times in the second period to take control. Alexander Pereszhogin, Alexei Tereshenko, Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk and tournament MVP Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins scored the other goals, with Datsyuk and Alexander Ovechkin of the Capitals [...]