Last round: Rangers def. Washington 4-3; Devils def. Philadelphia 4-1.
Leading scorers: Rangers — Brad Richards, six goals, five assists, 11 points, Marian Gaborik 4-6-10, Michael Del Zotto 2-6-8. Goalie — Henrik Lundqvist 8-6, 1.68 goals-against average, .937 save percentage.
Devils — Ilya Kovalchuk 5-7-12, Travis Zajac 5-5-10, Zach Parise 4-4-8. Goalie — Martin Brodeur 8-3, 2.05, .920.
Spotlight on: Ilya Kovalchuk. Maligned most of his career for being absent in the clutch moments, Kovalchuk has silenced the critics this year with strong play in the playoffs.
Story line: Can the 40-year-old Brodeur reach back one more time to get his team into the Stanley Cup Finals? If he does, it will be for the fifth time. It won’t be easy against a hungry, motivated Lundqvist in the other net.
Post’s pick: Devils in seven.
