By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY
Updated 6h 47m ago
By Ed Mulholland, US Presswire
"Why not us?" he asked.
Saturday, that question seemed far more relevant as the Devils defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 to force a Game 6 in Los Angeles on Monday (8 p.m. ET, NBC). The Kings still lead the best-of-seven series at 3-2, but the Devils are now the first team since the 1945 Detroit Red Wings to win Games 4 and Game 5 after losing the first three games of the NHL championship series.
"We look across the room and we see a guy that we know will get that job done," said Devils forward Alexei Ponikarovsky. "That's the attitude we have to have."
The Devils' win ended the Kings' NHL-playoff record 10-game road winning streak.
"We're probably saying what they said in Games 1 and 2 where we got the breaks," Kings coach Darryl Sutter said. "Now, they did. That's how even it is."
New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur was strong again, making 25 saves, to outperform Kings goalie Jonathan Quick for the second consecutive game.
New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur was strong again, making 25 saves, to outperform Kings goalie Jonathan Quick for the second consecutive game.
"I wish I was that eloquent that I had more ways to phrase (how good he is)," Devils coach Peter DeBoer said. "What else can you say? His performance speaks for itself. It's the timing of it. You know, I think the fact we're 9-1 or 10-1 in Games 4 through 7 in a series is a testament to how he enjoys that type of pressure."
The win was Brodeur's 17th Stanley Cup Final win, tying him for sixth on the all-time list, leaving him one behind Patrick Roy. Jacques Plante holds the record of 25 Stanley Cup Final wins.
Defenseman Bryce Salvador, who has become one of the Devils' unlikely postseason heroes, scored the game-winning goal at 9:05 of the second period. Salvador didn't net a goal in 82 regular-season games, and now he has four in the postseason. Salvador's game-winner came on New Jersey's ninth shot of the game. It came from a bad angle along the boards.
"He's had great composure back there for us, getting shots through," DeBoer said."We wouldn't be here without him."
Justin Williams had scored for Los Angeles at 3:26 of the period on a shot from the high slot to to tie the game 1-1.
With 8:44 remaining in the second period, Kings center Jarret Stoll did swat the puck out of the air and past Brodeur, but the goal was immediately waved off by officials for a clear-cut high stick. To bat a puck into the net for a legal goal, the stick needs to be below the crossbar. Stoll's stick was above his shoulder.
With 8:44 remaining in the second period, Kings center Jarret Stoll did swat the puck out of the air and past Brodeur, but the goal was immediately waved off by officials for a clear-cut high stick. To bat a puck into the net for a legal goal, the stick needs to be below the crossbar. Stoll's stick was above his shoulder.
The Devils had claimed a 1-0 lead at 12:45 of the first period when Zach Parise scored his first goal of the series. It was also New Jersey's first power play goal of the series, ending an 0-for-15 drought.
"Every goal in this series is a big goal," Ponikarovsky said.
The Los Angeles player in the penalty box was defenseman Willie Mitchell, who happens to be one of the team's most important penalty killers.
The Los Angeles player in the penalty box was defenseman Willie Mitchell, who happens to be one of the team's most important penalty killers.
Quick, who has played brilliantly in the postseason, came out of the net to play the puck and didn't push it far enough away behind the net. Parise dashed behind the net, claimed the puck and wrapped it over the goal line before Quick could return to his proper positioning. It was Parise's first point in six playoff games.
The team that has scored first has won every game in this championship series.
Although it has been 70 years since the Maple Leafs erased the 3-0 series lead to win the championship, the Devils don't have to look that far back for inspiration. The 2004 Boston Red Sox were down 3-0 to the New York Yankees before winning four in a row to claim the ALCS,
Although it has been 70 years since the Maple Leafs erased the 3-0 series lead to win the championship, the Devils don't have to look that far back for inspiration. The 2004 Boston Red Sox were down 3-0 to the New York Yankees before winning four in a row to claim the ALCS,
Just two years ago, the Philadelphia Flyers won a non-championship playoff series against Boston by winning the last four games before after losing the first three.
In the previous round, the Devils won three games in a row to polish off the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final. In a previous round, they won four games in a row to take down the Philadelphia Flyers.
"This has definitely been an unusual series. I hope it stays that way," said Devils defenseman Mark Fayne.
Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi said that when his team faced adversity in the regular season, "we said that answer was in the room."
"I think it's the same in this situation," Scuderi said.
See photos of: New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings
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