DEVILS 3, RANGERS 2: David Clarkson scored the game winner early in the third period as visiting New Jersey evened the Eastern Conference finals at a game apiece.

The Devils overcame some special-teams struggles while getting 23 saves from Martin Brodeur, who earned his 109th career postseason win.

Following a back-and-forth opening 40 minutes, Clarkson put the Devils ahead for good 2:31 into the third period. After Marek Zidlicky alertly pinched in to keep the puck deep in the Rangers' zone, Adam Henrique gained possession and wristed a shot that Clarkson redirected off the right post and into the net behind Henrik Lundqvist.

The Devils held on from there to seize home-ice advantage in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 goes Saturday afternoon in New Jersey.

New Jersey struck first on a power play at the 13:39 mark of the opening period. Following extended pressure, Zidlicky gathered the puck at the blue line and slid a pass to Ilya Kovachuk, who whistled a wrist shot from the right faceoff dot that beat Lundqvist high on the glove side.

The Rangers responded with a pair of power-play goals to take the lead.

Mark Staal evened things at 2:23 of the second period on a point shot that caromed off the end boards, deflected off Brodeur's left leg and into the net. Just under 10 minutes later, rookie Chris Kreider defected Anton Stralman's initial shot past Brodeur while setting up a screen at the side of the goal.

New Jersey countered with 1:51 remaining in the frame, as Ryan Carter positioned himself in the slot and deflected a Bryce Salvador shot past Lundqvist for his first goal since the opening game of the playoffs.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Salvador finished with a pair of assists and now has eight points in 14 playoff games. The stay-at-home defenseman registered just nine points in 82 regular-season contests. ... Lundqvist made 24 saves in defeat. ... The Devils' penalty-killing unit came into the night at just 74 percent efficiency in the playoffs. New Jersey setting a modern-day NHL record by killing off 89.5 percent of opposing power plays in the regular season.