Rangers’ coach prays to ward off hot Devils

NEW YORK — The Rangers find themselves in the same situation for the third time, a series reduced to a best- ofthree with two games at home.

But Tuesday marked the first time coach John Tortorella has sought divine intervention to coax more offence out of his forwards. The top- seeded Rangers and the sixth- seeded Devils are tied at two games apiece entering tonight’s Game 5 of their Eastern Conference final at the Garden. The Devils won 4- 1 in Monday’s Game 4 at Prudential Center.

“Pray,” Tortorella said when asked about getting more than just the two even- strength goals he’s got from his forwards in the series. “I don’t know what else to tell you. We’re going to keep on trying to play, pray and, hopefully, something good happens to them.”

Brandon Prust will return to the Rangers’ lineup tonight after serving a one- game suspension for his elbow to Devils defenceman Anton Volchenkov in Game 3, and the Rangers’ players said the Game 4 chippiness — particularly Mike Rupp hitting Devils goalie Martin Brodeur and the stick work between Rangers captain Ryan Callahan and Ilya Kovalchuk — was long forgotten.

“It happens in the playoffs; you run into emotions,” Callahan said.

“I don’t really feel like it’s anything that I need to let go or our team needs to let go,” Rupp added.

“We’re focused on the threegame series.”

The Rangers must generate a strong first period while being more adept at handling the Devils’ forecheck, possessing the puck more and sustaining an attack in the offensive zone. The Rangers have not done a great job of that in the series.

“That’s the playoffs,” Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist added.

“You go from high to low. One day you’re so happy and excited, the next day you’re disappointed and upset. The big thing is to forget about it.”