Stanley Cups: 3

2011-'12 record: 48-28-2-4, 102 points (4th in Atlantic, 6th in East)

2011-'12 playoffs: Def. Florida Panthers 4-3, def. Philadelphia Flyers 4-1; def. New York Rangers 4-2; lost to Los Angeles Kings 4-2.

Coach: Peter DeBoer (151-135-42, 5th NHL year, 2nd team)

Top returning scorer: LW Ilya Kovalchuk (37 goals, 46 assists, 83 points)

Top returning goalie: Martin Brodeur (31-21-4, 2.41, .908)

Key additions: RW Krys Barch; RW Bobby Butler.

Key subtractions: LW Zach Parise; RW Petr Sykora; LW Alex Ponikarovsky; D Matt Taormina.

Goaltending: Brodeur, the NHL’s winningest (656) goalie and all-time shutout leader (119), won a Stanley Cup in 1995 and took the Devils back to the finals last spring just past his 40th birthday. But the annals of NHL history are thin when it comes to netminders excelling beyond the age of 40.

Player to watch: LW Stefan Matteau. The son of former the NHLer Stephane Matteau was New Jersey’s top pick in the 2012 entry draft and tallied 18 goals for Blanville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) during the lockout.

Icing: The Devils will play into February minus rookie sensation C Adam Henrique, who suffered a thumb injury playing with AHL Albany during lockout . . . RW David Clarkson scored 30 goals last season, nearly doubling his previous career high (17) . . . LW Patrik Elias (894 points) is the franchise’s all-time scoring leader.

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Biting back

PHT: After coming back home in an 0-2 hole, the Sharks are now even with the Kings after holding on to win Game 4 Tuesday night.

NBC Sports

Highlights: Sharks even series with Kings

  The San Jose Sharks capitalized on their scoring chances in the first period and the early part of the second period in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Los Angeles Kings. After falling behind by two goals, the Kings almost cut the lead in half in the second period, but the referee blew the play dead as the puck was about to cross the goal line. The series is now tied at two.

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