Thomas and team-mates celebrate Steve Thomas profile

The game had been dominated by the netminders, with Anaheim's Jean-Sebastien Giguere notching his fifth shutout of the play-offs, saving all 26 shots directed at him.

The win improved the Ducks' overtime post-season record to 7-0 and sends the series back to the Meadowlands all square after Anaheim were blanked 3-0 in the first two games.

Going into overtime for the second consecutive game, the home side settled the issue quickly when Devils goalie Martin Brodeur failed to control the rebound off a shot by Samuel Pahlsson.

When you have an opportunity to score an overtime goal to win a game, that's the ultimate Ducks scorer Steve Thomas

British-born Thomas swooped in and snapping the puck over the sprawling New Jersey netminder.

For three periods, Brodeur and Giguere engaged in a scintillating battle, taking turns to make big saves.

After his big blunder in game three, Brodeur was back to his best, particularly in the second period.

Saturday's 3-2 loss to Anaheim has seen him fumble his stick and watch as the puck went through his legs and into the net.

But luck was on his side this time as Stanislav Chisov and Adam Oates both struck the post.

His good fortune nearly ran out early in the third period, however, when he again nearly deflected the puck into his own net before sweeping it clear at the last moment.

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The play began with Ruslan Salei routinely slamming the puck into the New Jersey end off the boards from centre ice.

But the Anaheim defenseman's shot took a strange bounce, the puck sharply coming off the boards and cutting across the goalmouth to catch Brodeur off-guard.

With the capacity crowd of 17,174 at the Pond standing and cheering, officials went to the video replay but ruled the puck had not crossed the goal line.