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What it means: Eighteen years ago to the day, the Devils blew a 2-0 lead to let Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals and a 3-2 series lead slip away. But this is not 1994.

Despite a second-period rally that kept the Rangers' hope alive, the Devils knocked off their Hudson River rivals with a 3-2 overtime win to earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup finals since 2003. With the score tied at 2, rookie Adam Henrique scored the winner to send New York packing while New Jersey advances to face the Los Angeles Kings.

All tied up: A Rangers captain pulls his team even after falling behind to the Devils 2-0 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals ... sound familiar? Ryan Callahan tipped Dan Girardi's point shot for his third goal in four games, knotting the score with 6:19 remaining in the second period.

Slow starts: Trailing by two goals at the first intermission, the Rangers were haunted by yet another poor start. In the last three games of the series, the Rangers were outscored 7-1 in the first period.

Usual suspects: With yet another goal from their fourth line, the Devils took a lead midway into the first period with Ryan Carter's second goal in as many games. Carter, who scored the game winner in Game 5, buried a rebound for a 1-0 lead at 10:05. Steve Bernier also made a terrific pass to set up the Devils' rush and earned a secondary assist on the play.

Pretty power play: Devils sniper Ilya Kovalchuk completed a seamless tic-tac-toe passing sequence touched by all five Devils for a power-play goal at 13:56 of the first period. Dainius Zubrus made a terrific pass through the crease to find Kovalchuk, who scored back-door for a 2-0 lead that sent the Prudential Center crowd into a frenzy.

Fed-Ex: Clutch playoff performer Ruslan Fedotenko cut the Devils' lead in half with a goal at 9:47 of the second. The 33-year-old veteran, who has won Stanley Cups previously with Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, put back Ryan McDonagh's wraparound attempt to spark the Rangers' second-period comeback.

Slash attack: Devils first-line center Travis Zajac was forced from the game briefly during the second period after taking a hard slash to the left hand by Rangers tough guy Brandon Prust. Prust, who was suspended for one game earlier in the series after a reckless elbow to Anton Volchenkov in Game 3, did not earn a penalty on the play.

Ouch: Both Henrique and Carter left the game during the third period after being hit by shots. Henrique returned later in the period, while Carter did not come back until overtime.

At a glance: In a rowdy Game 4 that delivered all the nastiness lacking in the first three games, the Devils proved that Henrik is human after all. Shut out twice in the first three games against the Rangers, the Devils solved the mind-bogglingly steady Henrik Lundqvist with a 4-1 win that tied the series at two games apiece. Devils captain Zach Parise led the charge, finishing with two goals and an assist in a stellar performance that had the Prudential Center buzzing, while goaltender Martin Brodeur made 30 saves and added an assist on Parise's late-game empty-netter.

Rough stuff: The arena reached a fever pitch midway into the third after ex-Devil Mike Rupp shoved Brodeur after the play, igniting a melee that eventually ensnared both coaches. John Tortorella and Pete DeBoer screamed at each other from the bench while their players tangled on the ice -- the second time this season the two have gone at it during a game. Both coaches traded barbs during the teams' last regular-season meeting March 19.

Playoff performer: Recording his third goal of the playoffs -- after being held without one during all 82 games of the regular season -- Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador beat Lundqvist five-hole with a shot through traffic fired from the left point at 8:10. The 36-year-old veteran has three goals and six assists in 16 games this postseason.

Another benching: Two games after stapling Marian Gaborik to the bench, Tortorella exercised the tough-love strategy on young defenseman Michael Del Zotto. After a first-period miscue led to the Devils’ second goal of the night, Del Zotto coughed the puck up 2:57 into the second and didn’t see the ice the rest of the period.

Two-on-one: A gaffe along the boards by Del Zotto led to a two-on-one rush that allowed New Jersey to pad its one-goal lead. Parise made a perfect setup to linemate Travis Zajac, who one-timed the puck for a 2-0 advantage at 11:59.

First fisticuffs: Tensions finally erupted for the series’ first fight -- albeit a brief one -- 9:26 into the first, as Adam Henrique and Ryan McDonagh tangled. Henrique seemed to take exception to McDonagh’s cross-check after the whistle and both were sent to the box for fighting. The rough stuff continued in the second period when Rangers captain Callahan and Devils sniper Ilya Kovalchuk went after each other on more than one occasion. Both were sent to the box -- Callahan for roughing, Kovalchuk for slashing -- after one nasty sequence during which Callahan swiped at Kovalchuk’s helmet only to receive a spear to the stomach in retaliation.

Bickel in for Prust: With Brandon Prust serving a one-game suspension for his elbow on Anton Volchenkov in Game 3, defenseman Stu Bickel was used to replace him as a forward, although that plan didn’t last for long. With Del Zotto benched in the second period, Bickel was put back on defense.

What's next: Game 5, Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, 8 p.m.

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What it means: In a match that drew eerie parallels to Game 1, the Rangers surged in the third period, breaking a scoreless tie and running away with a 3-0 win at the Prudential Center for a 2-1 series lead.

The Devils carried play for the first half of the game, but Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was not to be topped. The Vezina and Hart trophy finalist made 36 stops in his second shutout of the series -- another sensational performance that the Rangers would've been ashamed to waste. The Rangers received goals from Dan Girardi and rookie Chris Kreider, and captain Ryan Callahan ended a lengthy goal drought with his empty-netter to make it 3-0.

Déjà vu: In what seemed to mirror Game 1 to an uncanny degree, Girardi snapped a scoreless draw early in the third period before Kreider added an insurance goal less than two minutes later. Both players tallied goals in the Rangers' Game 1 victory on Monday at Madison Square Garden.

After a clutch faceoff win by teammate Brad Richards, Girardi ripped a wrist shot past Martin Brodeur for a power-play goal at 3:19 to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Kreider added his fifth goal of the playoffs on a deflection of Ryan McDonagh's point shot at 5:16.

Goaltending duel: The second period featured a pair of spectacular saves by each team's netminder. Lundqvist made a diving stop with his left arm to deny Ilya Kovalchuk on a breakaway just 45 seconds into the frame. Not to be outdone, Brodeur sprawled to smother Callahan's attempt at the left post at 4:16.

No penalty on Prust: Rangers tough guy Brandon Prust got away with elbowing Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov at 2:38 of the second. Volchenkov was slow to get up after being felled by Prust's elbow to the back of the helmet -- a play that was missed by all four on-ice officials. However, Prust might still face supplementary discipline. Volchenkov returned to the ice after the hit.

Switching things up: Not long into the first period, Rangers coach John Tortorella shuffled his lines, using Kreider with Richards and Marian Gaborik, and placing Carl Hagelin with center Derek Stepan and Callahan on the second line.

The Rangers' power play also debuted a new look. Gaborik, Kreider and Artem Anisimov were used up front while defensemen Michael Del Zotto and Anton Stralman manned the points of the team's first unit.

Tortorella reunited his original lines to begin the second period.

Stu scratched: Defenseman Stu Bickel, often the first victim when Tortorella shortens the bench, was scratched Saturday. Replacing him in the lineup was Steve Eminger, who has appeared in only one other playoff contest for the Rangers -- Game 1 of their semifinals set against Washington on April 28.

Up Next: Rangers at Devils, 8 p.m. Monday

At a glance: Surrendering Game 1 to the Rangers despite carrying play for much of the match, the Devils responded in Game 2 with a 3-2 win to tie the series at a game apiece. With the game tied at 2, New Jersey's David Clarkson deflected Bryce Salvador's shot 2:31 into the third period for the go-ahead goal. The Rangers' loss marks the third time this postseason that the team squandered an opportunity to take a two-game series lead. The best-of-seven set now heads to Newark for Games 3 and 4.

Double the deflection: Trailing 1-0 after the first period, the Rangers tallied twice on the power play during the second period to take a 2-1 lead. Defenseman Marc Staal was credited with the Rangers' first goal at 2:23; his shot deflected off Devils defenseman Salvador, then caromed off the end-boards before bouncing off Martin Brodeur's pads for his third goal of the playoffs. Scoring his second goal in as many games, Rangers rookie Chris Kreider deflected Anton Stralman's shot at 12:19.

All tied up: Tying the game late in the second period, Devils fourth-liner Ryan Carter tipped in Salvador’s shot. Coach John Tortorella looked irate after Marian Gaborik's casual clearing attempt allowed the Devils to keep the puck in the zone.

Gaborik benched: As penance for the Devil's game-tying goal, Gaborik was benched to begin the third period with Artem Anisimov skating on the team's first line with Carl Hagelin and Brad Richards. Gaborik did not reappear until taking his first shift of the period 11:20 into the third.

Block that: Giving the Devils their first goal of the series, Ilya Kovalchuk sniped one from the left circle to beat Henrik Lundqvist high-glove, although it was a laser Lundqvist had no shot to snag. Kovalchuk’s power-play marker, assisted by defenseman Marek Zidlicky and captain Zach Parise, gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at 13:39.

Loading up: Switching up the lines from Game 1, Devils coach Pete Deboer loaded up his top line with Parise, Kovalchuk and center Travis Zajac to start the game.

Un-hinged: In a bizarre-yet-comical twist during a tight game at Madison Square Garden, the door to the Devils penalty box jammed with Zajac waiting to serve his ill-advised offensive-zone interference penalty during the second period. Crew workers labored for almost 10 minutes -- even trying to kick the door open at one point -- before resolving the situation, which had several players chuckling on their respective benches.

Defensive substitution: Devils defenseman Peter Harrold made his first appearance of the series, replacing rookie Adam Larsson in the lineup. The 28-year-old even manned the right point on the Devils’ second power-play unit.

Up Next: Rangers at Devils, Game 3, Saturday at 1 p.m.

At a glance: For the first time in 18 years, the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils meet in the Eastern Conference Finals for a heated Hudson River showdown to determine which team will move one step closer to the Cup. After knocking off the Flyers in five games, New Jersey enters Monday’s match recharged and revitalized after five days rest while the Rangers hop right back into the action after a grueling seven-game series with the Capitals. The hatred between the two teams is genuine and venom between the division rivals is ready to be unleashed. Buckle up, hockey fans. This one is sure to be a bloody, bitter battle.

Lundqvist vs. Brodeur: Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist is trying to cap a sensational 2011-12 season and while he dominates Martin Brodeur in regular-season head-to-head meetings (23-7-5, 1.61 GAA, .941 save percentage), Brodeur is the one who sets the bar as far as post-season success. The four-time Vezina Trophy winner has won three Stanley Cup Championships during his 18-year tenure with the Devils. Which one will hold court in this best-of-seven set?

Stars to watch: Beyond the superior goaltending match-up, the Devils and the Rangers possess two of the best snipers in the league in Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Gaborik, respectively. Both teams also feature hard working, heart-and-soul captains Zach Parise and Ryan Callahan and clutch playoff performers Patrik Elias and Brad Richards. X-factor players? Keep an eye on New Jersey’s David Clarkson, who is coming off a career-high 30-goal regular-season and New York’s talented rookie duo of Chris Kreider and Carl Hagelin.

Last time around: In a nasty regular-season finale between New York and New Jersey on March 19, the two teams wasted no time expressing their hostility. Six players dropped the gloves three seconds into play during an opening-faceoff line brawl that had the Garden crowd rocking and both coaches trading verbal jabs before, during and after the fight-filled contest.

Offensive outburst: Gone are the Devils teams of years past – the clubs that excelled with the trademark trap and a stingy defensive structure. They have been replaced with a high-flying, aggressive offensively opportunistic team under new coach Pete DeBoer. The well-balanced Devils are averaging three goals per game throughout the playoffs and required only five games to bounce the Flyers from the second round.

Cup stat “crap”: No team under the current playoff format has ever gone on to win the Stanley Cup after playing 14 games through the first two rounds. The Rangers needed a seventh game to dispatch of both Ottawa and Washington. How does coach John Tortorella feel about the statistical data stacked against his club? “That’s a bunch of cap,” he said in Monday morning’s press conference.

Revenge factor: Brodeur does not have fond memories of the last time the two teams met in the Eastern Conference finals back in 1994 en route to the Rangers’ first Stanley Cup since 1940. Stephane Matteau beat a then-22-year-old Brodeur with his iconic wraparound goal in double-overtime of Game 7 to send the Devils packing- a memory that still stings for the 40-year-old Brodeur.

NEWARK, N.J. -- Doctors and trainers worked their magic to get Ilya Kovalchuk back to the ice.

Then the 29-year-old sniper worked his magic on it.

Kovalchuk, who had to sit out Game 2 because of a back injury, capped off a brilliant one-goal, two-assist performance in his return in Game 3 on Thursday night, deftly feeding Alexei Ponikarovsky for the game-winning marker with 2:39 left in overtime, as the New Jersey Devils beat the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3, at the Prudential Center.

New Jersey now leads Philadelphia in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals series, 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday night at The Rock.

"I think when you're around him every day, you realize what he's capable of," DeBoer said of Kovalchuk, who has recorded a team-high tying nine points (four goals, five assists) in nine games this postseason.

"He was very motivated to get back in and not disrupt the lineup and what the guys had accomplished in Game 2. I knew he was going to have a positive effect on the game."

Kovalchuk called watching his team's stunning 4-1 victory in Philadelphia from home with a couple friends and his wife on Tuesday night a nerve-wracking experience. The Devils trailed 1-0 heading into the third period despite taking 25 shots.

But after Kovalchuk put his daughter to bed, Adam Larsson knotted the score. His television stayed off the rest of the way. His wife gave him the good news once the final buzzer sounded.

"I think it was a little bit of good luck that I didn’t see it on TV, but I saw all the highlights and the guys did an unbelievable job," Kovalchuk said.

Kovalchuk led the Devils in scoring during the regular season and has averaged 40.6 goals per season during his 10-year NHL career. Yet when he felt ready to return to the lineup -- following a couple days of rest and a little treatment -- he didn’t want to do too much.

He just wanted to fit in.

"I just wanted to be myself," he said. "I knew that I was gonna feel good because I skated this morning, and I didn't have any problems."

It didn't take long for Kovalchuk to make his impact felt. Just 20 seconds after picking up a secondary assist on Patrik Elias' tying goal in the first period, the Russian superstar took a cross-ice pass from Travis Zajac on a 3-on-2 odd-man rush and whipped a shot from between the hash marks that beat Ilya Bryzgalov glove-side.

"It was nice," Kovalchuk said. "When you miss a game, you want to produce right away."

It certainly doesn't hurt to produce late, too. And that's what makes Kovalchuk’s stretch pass from blue line to blue line to Ponikarovsky for his walk-off winner even more special.

Kovalchuk saw Ponikarovsky coming off the bench on the Flyers making a late change, so he hit his teammate in stride. A 2-on-1 odd-man rush developed quickly.

Ponikarovsky's first shot was stopped, but he put home the rebound, sending the sellout crowd of 17,625 into a frenzy.

Four of the Devils' last five playoff games have gone to overtime. They’ve won three of them.

They can thank Kovalchuk -- as well as their stymieing penalty kill (2-for-2 O.T., 14-for-16 series) -- for this one.

"It’s a world-class play," DeBoer said. "Not many guys have the poise to hold the puck there, recognize a line change on the other team and spring somebody. There's only a handful of guys that can make that play, and we're fortunate to have him on our team."

"With all the skill and talent he has, you never know what's going to happen with the puck," Andy Greene said. "He'll do things that'll make you shake your head."

In Game 1, it was all his miscues in the defensive zone that left everyone shaking their heads.

Something must’ve been wrong. It was.

But as it turns out, all Ilya Kovalchuk needed was a couple days off and a little treatment to make his magic on the ice once again.

Ilya Kovalchuk has been ruled out of Tuesday's Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Devils and Flyers with a lower-body injury, the team announced.

How will that loss affect the series?

ESPN.com's Scott Burnside analyzes the impact with his column here.

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WHAT IT MEANS: Left winger Zach Parise is ready to begin skating. And the way the New Jersey Devils are playing of late, they may get him back before their improbable stretch run toward the playoffs is over. The Devils won for the 10th time in their last 11 games on Wednesday night at the Prudential Center, beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1. With the victory, New Jersey moved back within nine points of the idle Carolina Hurricanes for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Devils have now gone an unimaginable 18-2-2 in their last 22 games. They have only 19 games left to pull off the miracle, but the way they’ve been playing, who knows. Despite being without Jason Arnott, the Devils didn’t miss a beat with newly acquired centerman David Steckel. However, their reconstructed third and fourth lines are going to need time to find chemistry.

LET 'ER RIP: The "Kovy! Kovy! Kovy!" chants started with 9:50 remaining -- right after the Devils’ $100 million man put them on top. Ilya Kovalchuk unleashed an absolute Howitzer from the between the circles after taking a pass from Travis Zajac that beat Dwayne Roloson upstairs. In fact, the Russian sniper shot the puck so hard he flopped over. His 22nd goal of the season unknotted a 1-1 tie and instilled new life in the crowd.

MARTY! Making his second consecutive start after missing the previous nine games with a sprained MCL in his right knee, goaltender Martin Brodeur earned his second straight victory between the pipes, making 15 saves. His best stop of the evening came in the first period, when he robbed Nate Thompson on the breakaway with a glove save. Brodeur's defenseman continued their impeccable work in front of him as well. The Devils have allowed just four goals in their last six games.

TIED UP: Late in the second period, the Devils were looking for something, anything to get back in the game. They found that something in the form of Henrik Tallinder's fourth goal of the season with 1:15 remaining. After Kovalchuk split defenders and brought the puck into the Lightning zone, the Devils' first shot was blocked. However, the puck bounced to Tallinder at the top of the left circle and he fired a low shot that was deflected before it found its way behind Roloson, tying the game at 1-1.

TOO ANSSI: The Devils came in having killed off their last 21 penalties. But after defenseman Anssi Salmela foolishly flipped the puck over the boards in his own end and was whistled for delay of game in the second period, New Jersey was unable to extend its streak to 22. Pavel Kubina's wrister from the top of the right circle deflected off Dominic Moore's skate and past Brodeur. It was Moore's 11th goal of the season, third on the power play, and it came at 4:41 of the middle frame, allowing Tampa Bay to jump out to a 1-0 lead.

UP NEXT: The Devils will take on the Sidney Crosby-less Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night at the Prudential Center. The reason the Penguins don't have Crosby's services still is because new Devils acquisition David Steckel hit him in the Winter Classic when he was a member of the Washington Capitals, causing a concussion. Will the Penguins be seeking retribution? We'll find out in two days.

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WHAT IT MEANS: The chant at The Rock is normally "D-E-V-I-L-S! What's that spell? Devils!" On Friday night, it should've been "D-E-F-E-N-S-E! What's that spell? Defense!"

Interim coach Jacques Lemaire has clearly put his stamp on the New Jersey Devils. The Devils -- in a throwback defensive performance reminiscent of their glory days under Lemaire in the mid-'90s -- allowed just 15 shots in shutting out the rival New York Rangers, 1-0, in front of a sellout crowd at the Prudential Center. New Jersey has now won a season-high six straight games, eight of its last nine and 14 of its last 17. On the other hand, the Blueshirts, who had their two-game winning streak snapped, looked tired, the result of playing their second game in as many nights.

KOVY! KOVY! The moment the puck jumped over defenseman Marc Staal's stick at the right point, it was over. Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers never had a chance. Ilya Kovalchuk jumped on the loose puck in the neutral zone, moved in on a breakaway and buried one by Lundqvist on the glove side with a quick snapper. Kovalchuk’s 21st goal of the season, which came at 8:18 of the second period, extended his consecutive point streak to nine games. It also gave the Devils a 1-0 lead for the second straight game.

MOOOOSE! Johan Hedberg earned his fifth consecutive victory between the pipes, making 15 saves. It was his second shutout of the season and the Devils’ first since Jan. 20. It was the Rangers' first time being held without a goal since Feb. 5. Lundqvist was his usual brilliant self against the Devils, and deserved a better fate. One robbery after another -- no "Jersey Shore" reference intended -- Lundqvist single-handedly kept the Rangers in the game. Despite being saddled with the loss, he made 27 saves of his own.

DEFENSE: Get the puck. Get it out. That was the mantra for the Devils' defense in this one. New Jersey was absolutely brilliant in its own end, canceling the Rangers' dump-and-chase game by sealing off potential forecheckers, possessing the puck and firing quick passes out the other way. Some call it boring. The Devils have called it winning, for years. The 15 shots allowed was the Devils' lowest total since allowing a season-low 14 shots to the Islanders on Dec. 23.

MISSED CHANCES: There were many in this one. Whether it was Mats Zuccarello missing an open net in the first, Kovalchuk ringing one off the cross bar in the second or Ryan Callahan hitting the left post just 21 seconds into the third, this was a game filled with failed opportunities. And when you combine that with a little luck, it all adds up to a low scoring, rugged affair.

NOTES: The Devils improved to 17-7-3 when scoring first and 16-0-2 when leading after two periods. The Rangers fell to 10-5-0 in the second-half of back-to-back games. The Devils have not scored a 5-on-4 power play goal in their last 10 games.

UP NEXT: For the Devils, another must-win game with a playoff-style feel in Carolina on Saturday night. New Jersey came in trailing the Hurricanes by 12 points in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers will host the Philadelphia Flyers in a Sunday matinee.

The Devils are within one game of doubling their season win total since Jan. 9 as they push for their 10th win in the past 13 games Tuesday night when they host the Carolina Hurricanes. Here are three keys to look for when the action starts.

Hed Strong

The Devils will be without Martin Brodeur tonight after he departed Sunday’s game against the Canadiens after dropping into the butterfly and hearing a “click” from his right knee. Diagnosed with a "non-operable sprain" that will require rehab, Brodeur is officially day-to-day. That will put Johan Hedberg between the pipes tonight. He’ll look to rebound from a somewhat spotty showing in his last start against the Florida Panthers (25 saves on 29 shots). He stopped 14 of 15 shots in relief of Brodeur in the final 40 minutes against Montreal though, so that should give him some confidence.

Snapping Out Of It

Ilya Kovalchuk seems to be much sharper and may have put his abysmal early season behind him. He has recorded eight points in his last six games, a much more acceptable clip for the summer’s prized free agent. What’s more, he’s recorded a rating of plus-2 over that span. Considering he still sits at minus-24 for the season, that’s a decent step in the right direction.

Credit Jacques Lemaire for the turnaround. In 32 games playing for former head coach John MacLean, Kovalchuk was a minus-22. In 20 games for Lemaire, he's only a minus-2.

Catching Some Zs

The Devils’ offense has also benefited from the awakening of Dainius Zubrus and Travis Zajac (combined five goals and four assists since the start of February). Zajac is contributing in the faceoff circle as well with a winning percentage of 56.6, good for 11th in the NHL. In a blog post by Tom Gulitti of the Bergen Record, Zajac gives a nod to assistant coach Adam Oates for the improvement. That should be particularly helpful tonight against the Canes, they of the 44.2 cumulative faceoff percentage, the second-worst mark in the league.

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils sniper Ilya Kovalchuk won't be confused for a Frank J. Selke Trophy candidate anytime soon.

But that doesn't mean the defensive part of his game is nonexistent -- as it was in the past.

Ever since Jacques Lemaire took over after John MacLean was fired 33 games into the 2010-11 season, following one of the worst starts in franchise history, the interim coach has been preaching the importance of two-way hockey.

And it seems like Kovalchuk -- just like the rest of the team -- is starting to get it.

In his past five games, the 27-year-old Russian superstar not only has three goals and three assists, he also sports a plus/minus rating of plus-6. Kovalchuk, who has scored only 17 goals with 18 assists in 53 games, may still be on pace for the worst statistical season of his career, but he might just be able to salvage it if he continues to backcheck -- and the Devils continue to make an improbable surge toward the postseason.

Once the NHL's worst team, they're now 15 points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 28 games remaining.

"I believe that he's gonna have less pressure -- I believe this -- if he plays two ways," Lemaire said. "If he plays two ways, he's gonna be a better player. He will be appreciated more. Because if you're only a one-way player, and that one-way doesn't work, you're done."

For most players, that would be the case.

But Kovalchuk -- at least when he's on top of his game -- is one of the most dynamic players in the NHL. Granted, the Devils haven't seen much of that this season, prompting heavy scrutiny from fans and media alike.

Until now.

"Everybody expects for me to get the points and score goals and make good plays for my linemates. [But] the defense, it's an important part of the game and I always want to improve that," said Kovalchuk, who is a minus-1 in his past 23 games since Lemaire took over after being minus-22 in his first 30 games with MacLean behind the bench.

"So when you've got the coach like Jacques, he's the best probably in the league who can teach you what to do. It's simple things, but you just have to pay attention to that and you're gonna get even more offensive chances. If you're gonna play good position, you can intercept the passes and score."

Lemaire has always been a major proponent of accountability from his players at both ends of the ice. Arguably, no franchise has ever executed the neutral-zone trap -- or left-wing lock, as it is commonly referred to -- as well as the Devils. Defense has always been the team's identity. That's how the Devils became a three-time Stanley Cup champion.

"When you're a scorer [and] you don't score for 10 games, 15 games, all of a sudden it becomes, 'Hey, we need the goals, we need the goals,'" Lemaire said. "But if a guy does something else -- you get the guys in the organization that appreciate it. And he feels good about himself. And by feeling better about himself, it's gonna help him offensively. I believe that."

Prior to being dealt to the Devils in February 2010 and signing that 17-year, $100 million mega-extension, Kovalchuk had been known as a flashy goal-scorer who didn't care much about playing in his own end. At the time he was traded by the Atlanta Thrashers, no active player in the league had lit the lamp more times (328) than he had.

But Lemaire has changed Kovalchuk's one-track mindset. Almost immediately after the coach came out of retirement, Lemaire began watching video with Kovalchuk, pointing out his flaws. And the two have been working feverishly to correct them.

"He wants me to be who I am," Kovalchuk said. "The team signed me to be myself, not be a Selke nominee. Definitely, everybody is responsible for defense, but when things don't go well offensively, you have to make sure to not give up any goals. That was the base where we started from, and right now we're scoring more goals and creating a lot more chances."

That much is evident by the Devils' 10-1-2 record in their past 13 games. During that stretch, they've tallied 44 goals, an average of 3.4 per game.

Lemaire's love of coaching has returned -- and he singled out Kovalchuk as a major reason why.

"I love winning," Lemaire said. "But I think before winning, I love seeing guys improve. I love when a guy plays well. You work; as an example, I worked with Kovy quite a bit. Spent time on video and all that. And then he goes on and does certain things that you're proud of."

Slowly, but surely, Kovalchuk is starting to get comfortable being a two-way player.

He's also beginning to get comfortable in New Jersey. His family resides in Florida now, but once their home in Bergen County is completed, they'll be able to reunite.

"It's tough right now because I'm by myself," Kovalchuk said. "It takes a little time."

It takes a little time. Sounds an awful lot like learning how to play defensive-minded hockey, doesn't it?

"I try to learn everyday," Kovalchuk said. "I have a lot of room to improve, and that's what I want to do. But the season isn't over yet. So we'll see what happens in two months."

The Devils look to close the book on a forgettable pre-All-Star portion of the 2010-11 season on a high note Wednesday night against the Detroit Red Wings. As the Devs go in search of their fifth win in a row, here are three factors to watch for when the puck drops. Fans of alliteration and ‘S’ words (That’s for you, Sean Connery.) will enjoy.

Streaking

Four straight wins? Points in their last seven games? Who is this team?

The Devils certainly seem to have snapped out of the funk that dominated the start of the season. Leading the way over the past seven games: Brian Rolston. You remember him, right? The player the Devils put through waivers twice in the hope that another team would take him and his salary cap hit off their hands. Well, no one did and he’s been making the most of his continued stay in the Garden State. He’s posted a team-high 10 points over the seven-game stretch, including seven assists. Coming into that hot streak he’d amassed just five points and a pair of goals all season long. He carries a four-game point streak into tonight’s game.

Schedule

The Devils’ turnaround hasn’t come against teams teetering on the cellar stairs either. Over the past seven games, New Jersey has bested Southeast Division-leading Tampa Bay twice, the Atlantic-leading Philadelphia Flyers and the second-place Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s true the Pens were missing Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but no one in New Jersey should be looking that gift-horse in the mouth.

Jacques Lemaire’s club catches another break tonight with the Red Wings. Detroit will be absent Chris Osgood, Danny Cleary, Mike Modano, Brad Stuart and Pavel Datsyuk. The losses on the bench have led to some losses on the ice (four of their last six games) and even made their victories a little iffy. The Wings haven’t won in regulation since a Jan. 4 W over Edmonton.

Scoring

The most impressive part of the Devils’ surge has come in the offensive end. In addition to Rolston, both Patrik Elias and Ilya Kovalchuk have averaged over a point per game over the last seven contests. Collectively they’ve averaged four goals per game while shooting 15.7 percent. That’s a rather sizable improvement over the 1.7 goals per game and shooting percentage of 5.7 through Jan. 8.

Recap | Box score | Photos

WHAT IT MEANS: As expected, the best of the East fended off the worst. The Philadelphia Flyers beat the New Jersey Devils 4-2 Thursday night at the Prudential Center. The Devils (10-28-2) have now dropped three in a row.

MOOSE VS. BOOSH: In the battle of goaltenders with sweet nicknames yelled by fans when they make a great save, it was Brian Boucher who notched the victory over Johan Hedberg. Boosh made 18 saves, while Hedberg stopped 16 shots. Hedberg was making his second consecutive start as Martin Brodeur looked on from the bench. And it remains to be seen if he'll make a third.

TAKE YOUR HATS BACK: Tough way to lose your hat, Mr. Fan. After Danny Briere's second goal of the game gave the Flyers a 4-2 lead at 11:34 of the third period, someone thought that the goal was going to be credit to Scott Hartnell, who already had two. But it was indeed Briere who cut to the net and beat Hedberg. And instead of a hat trick celebration, it just became some guy throwing his hat on the ice for no reason. Briere (19th and 20th) and Hartnell (11th and 12th) each finished with a pair of tallies. Briere's first proved to be the decisive one as he ripped a one-timer from the high slot by Hedberg at 2:48, five seconds after a Flyers power play had elapsed.

PLAY ON: David Clarkson snapped his 16-game scoring drought by netting his fifth of the season on a breakaway, making it 2-1 Devils at 17:40 of the second period. Andy Greene sailed a perfect pass to Clarkson, who sped in on Boucher. He roofed a shot over Boucher, but despite putting his arms up to celebrate, play continued. Upon further review, Clarkson's shot hit the bar and the goal counted. It was his first tally since Nov. 24.

NOT AGAIN: Once again, the boards decided to be Hedberg's worst enemy. Just 4:14 into the second period, Villie Leino (three assists) dumped the puck in off the end boards. Hedberg left his crease to go play it, but it took an odd carom and deflected right in front to Hartnell, who deposited it into an empty net. The fluke goal tied the game at 1-1.

FAST START: The Devils generated their first shot early and got the game's first goal when Dainus Zubrus was able to redirect Anton Volchenkov's wrister from the right point into the net. The shots in the opening frame were 7-7 -- or six more shots than the Devils got in the first 20 minutes during the first period of their 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.

POWER OUTAGE: Jacques Lemaire took over as interim head coach, the Devils power play has been non-existent. New Jersey entered Thursday night's action one for its last 19 on the man-advantage. And the Devils went 0-for-1 in this one. Yes, make it 1-for-20.

WHERE'S THE C? Ilya Kovalchuk and Patrik Elias were wearing their customary "A's," but there was no "C." That's because captain Jamie Langenbrunner has been asked to waive his no-trade clause. Langenbrunner was out of the lineup as GM Lou Lamoriello continues to search for a new home for his right winger. Langenbrunner said before the game that a trade is imminent. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren is in the building and rumors are swirling that Philadelphia has offered a pair of draft picks for Langenbrunner. For the record, the Devils and Flyers have never made a trade with one another.

RECORD-BREAKER: With a secondary assist on Zubrus' goal in the first period, Elias became the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Devils-Flyers rivalry. It was Elias' 65th point. Can you guess who he surpassed? All right, time's up. The answer: his ex-coach, John MacLean, who had 64.

UP NEXT: The Flyers. Again. This time, the two teams will head south to the City of Brotherly love for an afternoon game on Saturday. And it doesn't get any easier from there. The Devils will return home Sunday for a matinee matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Make some deals.

Jamie Langenbrunner, Patrick Elias and Jason Arnott are players that can be productive on winning teams. No sense keeping them when it appears that this year and next could be rebuilding years for the New Jersey Devils. It is true that these players have no trade clauses in their contracts but it doesn't hurt to ask. It's tough to let great players of the past go. But if you hold on to them, and don't acquire any prospects, then you will never turn things around.

Work with the defense on offense.

Larry Robinson has to work harder to get the D-men to be stronger on offense. It may be easier said then done but, something has to give. The Devils defense has produced just 8 goals this season and 21 assists. That's just 29 points! Come on Larry. Show them how to do it.

Get to work on Parise.

Devils fans can live with a bad year. It's the first really terrible year since '88-89. There is one thing that fans can't stand to think about -- losing Zach Parise. He might be one of the best forwards in team history. To lose him would set this franchise back to the dark ages. Lou Lamoriello needs to make sure a plan is place to get him signed. If not, the Ilya Kovalchuk deal will be even worse.

Figure it out with Marty.

Martin Brodeur was the best goalie in the league. Now he's a shell of himself. If this is what he is, then he can't play every night. Just because he was great doesn't mean he should play every night.

Get Ilya Kovalchuk scoring.

Hey Kovalchuk, there's the net. Score!

With the Thrashers making an early evening house call in Newark, here are three factors to keep tabs on when the action gets underway Friday night.

Redemption

The Thrash handed the Devils one of their worst losses of the season (7-1) down in Atlanta. While former Thrasher Ilya Kovalchuk scored a goal in his return, he finished with an unsightly minus-3 rating. That's been about par for the course this season (actually, the goal was a bit of a rarity). Kovalchuk hasn't finished with a positive rating in 14 of the Devils last 15 games. I'm sure Kovalchuk will be hungry to make a better impression tonight against his former team.

Respect the Completion

With a nod to Adam Sandler, the Devils came close to breaking in to rare two-goal territory against the Rangers, but hockey is neither horseshoes, nor hand grenades so close doesn't count. However, the effort level was much, much better than it has often been this season and if the Devils can keep playing with that level of urgency, they're bound to snap their six-game skid of just one goal per game.

Hed Strong

Johan Hedberg was, um, not good, against his old team in Atlanta. The Devils' second-string stopper allowed three goals on seven shots in relief of Martin Brodeur, but he gets the nod tonight. It will be the first start for Moose since Dec. 6 when he looked very good against Pittsburgh (32 saves in a 2-1 loss). The Devils could help him out by continuing to keep their opponents' shot totals down. Since Jacques Lemaire took over, the Devils have averaged 20.7 shots against per game. That's a mighty fine average. Unfortunately for the Devils, opponents have sported a shooting percentage of 19.4 in those games, about 10 percent higher than what is usually the league average. It will be up to Hedberg to help drop that striking figure tonight.