So back to New Jersey we go

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Devils' Adam Henrique (14) celebrates after putting the game-winner in the net behind Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) in the third period of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final Wednesday. (JULIE JACOBSON / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

LOS ANGELES -- The Triple Crown and the franchise first made famous for its Triple Crown Line will take a peek at history this Saturday.

Earlier in the day, the horse-racing world will watch to see if I'll Have Another can turn the triple for the first time since 1978. That night, the Los Angeles Kings will hope to win their first Stanley Cup since their inception 45 years ago.

The New Jersey Devils, the Kings and the Stanley Cup are headed back to the East Coast after the Devils' 3-1 win in Game 4 of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final.

The Cup was in the building here Wednesday night with the Kings in position to clinch and take a series sweep, but the Devils broke through to extend the drive to the title.

Los Angeles now leads 3-1, with Game 5 set for Saturday night in Newark.

Both the Stanley Cup and horse racing's Triple Crown will be in the offing in the New York area as I'll Have Another will be running the Belmont Stakes that day in Elmont, N.Y., with the chance to make history as well as the Kings.

Rookie Adam Henrique broke a 1-1 tie late in the third period with his fourth score of the post-season to give New Jersey a 2-1 lead that was later capped off by an Ilya Kovalchuk empty-net goal.

"That's a big-time play -- off (Henrique's) skate and then a quick shot up top -- especially with the way Quick is playing. It was a goal-scorer's play, and he's got a knack for that," said Devils coach Pete DeBoer.

The Devils had consistently preached to anyone listening that they had been full measure with the Kings in this series, but for the final scores. The first two games of the series went to overtime, lending the Devils' argument some credence.

"The last three games could have gone our way just as easily as they went L.A.'s," DeBoer said.

"We finally got rewarded. I've liked our game. We just haven't found a way to win until tonight, so hopefully that gets the ball rolling.

"Our players believe. They're in the fight. They've got a lot of pride. We've been in adverse spots before where we've played three or four games and not been rewarded because of a hot goaltender or taking too many penalties. We know we just have to stick with it and it will turn like it did tonight."

New Jersey had not held a lead in the series until Patrik Elias scored early in the third period and finally gave his team the momentum they had fought all series to get.

Elias swept a loose rebound past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick.

Quick had posted 138 minutes and 39 seconds of shutout hockey dating back to Game 2 of the series.

The lead, however, lasted just over one minute as Los Angeles pounced on the power play, with defender Drew Doughty lancing the Devils net from the point.

The Kings and the home crowd got back into the game for a stretch, but then came Henrique's moment to shine and the Brantford, Ont., native scored his third game-winning goal of the post-season.

Devils goalie Martin Brodeur had his best game of the series and he summed up the state of the series with his easy wit.

"We wanted to make them come back to New Jersey. We had to go anyway," laughed Brodeur.

"It was fun to win a game. That's all we wanted to do. We know we still have the biggest of hills to climb, but it's one win and now we will see what happens."

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless

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Gary Lawless, Winnipeg Free Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 7, 2012 C1