Pierre McGuire on why what happens inside the glass stays there

Martin Brodeur was in his goal crease Monday "minding my own business" when the Rangers' Mike Rupp abruptly landed a left to his upper chest, sending both him and the Eastern Conference finals reeling in a new direction.

For the Devils, it was part of a satisfying night on which they evened the series and relished frustrating the Rangers. Game 5 is tonight at Madison Square Garden.

For Brodeur, it was a jolt that put him back in the spotlight and reminded fans that Henrik Lundqvist is not the only premier goaltender in this series.

It also helped that Brodeur outplayed Lundqvist in the 4-1 victory in Game 4, serving notice that the goalie with the best body of career work still can match up against the goalie widely acknowledged as the best of the moment.

Brodeur, 40, a certain future Hall of Famer and three-time Stanley Cup winner, has been asked repeatedly during the series to comment on how good his counterpart is -- and he has done so.

"What can you say?" Bodeur said on Sunday. "He's been good . . . That's not surprising anybody."

But while Lundqvist shut out the Devils twice in the first three games, we now are four games in and Brodeur has allowed seven goals, Lundqvist six. And Brodeur is being asked about his own play, not just Lundqvist's.(Newsday)