Monday’s Three Stars: Parise scores, Brodeur saves in Game 4 Devils win
No. 1 Star: Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils
Parise entered Game 4 with one point in his last five games. He left Game 4 as No. 1 star with two goals and an assist as the Devils evened their series with the New York Rangers with a 4-1 victory. The Devils' power play has struggled through the series and went 1-for-4 in Game 4, but Parise's goal with the extra man early in the third period was the insurance marker for New Jersey:
No. 2 Star: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
Brodeur improved to 4-2 since turning 40 years old on May 6 by making 28 stops in the New Jersey win. Brodeur also recorded his fourth assist of the playoffs on Parise's empty netter.
No. 3 Star: Bryce Salvador, New Jersey Devils
Salvador didn't score at all during the regular season, but in the playoffs has brought the offense. Opening the scoring midway through the first period, Salvador tallied his third goal of the playoffs and later assisted on New Jersey's final goal for his 10th point of the playoffs.
Honorable mention: Game 4 of their 1994 series was also played on May 21 in New Jersey and ended with a Devils win ... In his first game since April 3, Jacob Josefson was 9-for-14 on faceoffs and a plus-1.
Conn Smythe Watch: 1. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings; 2. Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings; 3. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers; 4. Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils; 5. Brad Richards, New York Rangers; 6. Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings; 7. Mike Smith, Phoenix Coyotes; 8. Mike Richards, Los Angeles Kings; 9. David Clarkson, New Jersey Devils; 10. Dan Girardi, New York Rangers
Dishonorable mention: Things got very chippy in the third period and ended with both coaches jawing at each other.
