New Jersey pulls even in conference series

OTTAWA -- Tired of hearing all the accolades directed at the Ottawa Senators, Scott Stevens and the New Jersey Devils responded with a near-perfect performance.

Martin Brodeur stopped 30 shots, and New Jersey's offense woke up, as the Devils beat the Senators 4-1 Tuesday night to even their NHL Eastern Conference finals series.

John Madden, Tommy Albelin, Jeff Friesen and Jay Pandolfo scored for the Devils, who erased questions whether they can contain the potent Senators and bounce back from Saturday's sloppy series-opening 3-2 overtime loss.

"It was looking pretty bleak from everybody after we lost the first game," Stevens said. "But we felt we wanted to come and get this game tonight. We battled hard and got a big team effort from everyone."

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series, that is tied 1-1, is Thursday night in New Jersey. The Devils are 6-0 this postseason at home.

Radek Bonk scored for the Senators, who appeared flat and allowed more than two goals for the first time in 12 games, ending an NHL playoff record streak they set in Game 1.

"They didn't beat us, they butt-kicked us," Senators forward Bryan Smolinski said. "We just looked a little sluggish, a little lethargic. No particular reason, they just outbattled us."

The Devils, who previously hadn't trailed in a series this postseason, improved to 9-3, while Ottawa fell to 9-4.

The loss was also the Senators' first in which they've scored this postseason. They were shut out in their three previous losses, once against the New York Islanders, and twice by Philadelphia.

Sharks hire Doug Wilson as general manager

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Doug Wilson was hired Tuesday as general manager of the San Jose Sharks, who missed the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.

Wilson, the team's director of pro development the last five years, will replace Dean Lombardi, who was fired in March.

-- From wire reports