Final
Devils hope to take 3-1 lead in series vs. Lighting
Apr 20, 2007 - 3:35 PM Tampa Bay at New Jersey 7:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference quarterfinals Series tied, 2-2EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) - The New Jersey Devils are back in the series. Now they need to get Martin Brodeur back form.
Brodeur and the second-seeded Devils will try to break a tie in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series Friday when they host the Tampa Bay Lighting in the pivotal fifth game.
New Jersey evened matters with Wednesday's 4-3 overtime road win. Center Scott Gomez scored 12:54 into overtime and Brodeur recorded 30 saves.
"It's a big momentum-shifter for us," Brodeur said. "You lose that, you're down 3-1. Now it's 2-2 and a different ballgame, so we're definitely happy about the situation we're in."
A three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Vezina Trophy winner, Brodeur has been suspect throughout the entire series, surrendering at least one soft goal in each of the first three contests.
Brodeur needs one win to tie Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr for second on the all-time postseason list with 92. Patrick Roy tops the list at 151.
New Jersey's Zach Parise tallied twice - his fifth and sixth of this postseason, tying a franchise record for goals in a series.
Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis both scored for the seventh-seeded Lightning, who were outshot, 37-33, including 8-5 in overtime. They have combined for all 12 of Tampa Bay's tallies in the series.
"Our team battled their (butts) off to get back in," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "I thought Martin - I'd never seen a player take it over like he did to get us back."
"Every time we play Tampa Bay, they're going to get their chances," Gomez said. "Vinny (Lecavalier) is the best player in the NHL right now."
The Devils hope defenseman Colin White will be available after missing the previous two contests with a stiff back.
Game Six is at Tampa Bay on Sunday.
- PLAYOFFS
NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0
NEW JERSEY 1 1 1 3 FINAL
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: NJD - ANDREW GREENE 1 (MIKE RUPP, SCOTT GOMEZ) 12:46
2ND PRD: NJD - BRIAN GIONTA 3 (SCOTT GOMEZ, BRIAN RAFALSKI) 9:59
3RD PRD: NJD - (EN) SCOTT GOMEZ 2 (PATRIK ELIAS) 18:13
POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: TAM - 0 O
Apr 20 9:31 PM - PLAYOFFS
NHL TAMPA BAY 0
NEW JERSEY 3
3RD PRD: NJD - (EN) SCOTT GOMEZ 2 (PATRIK ELIAS) 18:13
Lightning vs. DevilsApr 20 9:24 PM - PLAYOFFS
NHL END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 0 0 0
NEW JERSEY 1 1 2 END OF THE 2ND
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: NJD - ANDREW GREENE 1 (MIKE RUPP, SCOTT GOMEZ) 12:46
2ND PRD: NJD - BRIAN GIONTA 3 (SCOTT GOMEZ, BRIAN RAFALSKI) 9:59
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TAM 8
Apr 20 8:36 PM - PLAYOFFS
NHL TAMPA BAY 0
NEW JERSEY 2
2ND PRD: NJD - BRIAN GIONTA 3 (SCOTT GOMEZ, BRIAN RAFALSKI) 9:59
Lightning vs. DevilsApr 20 8:18 PM - PLAYOFFS
NHL END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TAMPA BAY 0 0
NEW JERSEY 1 1 END OF THE 1ST
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: NJD - ANDREW GREENE 1 (MIKE RUPP, SCOTT GOMEZ) 12:46
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
TAM 8 8
NJD 5 5
GOALIES: TAM - JOHAN HOL
Apr 20 7:43 PM - PLAYOFFS
NHL TAMPA BAY 0
NEW JERSEY 1
1ST PRD: NJD - ANDREW GREENE 1 (MIKE RUPP, SCOTT GOMEZ) 12:46
Lightning vs. DevilsApr 20 7:33 PM
Related News
- Hämeenaho, Casey, and the 2024 World Junior Championships Open Post Dec 26
- The Continued Dominance of the United States National Team Developmental Program Dec 25
- Hockey Philippines’ March Miracle in Mongolia; Featuring a Jersey Guy Dec 25
- DitD & Open Post - 12/25/23: Merry Christmas Edition Dec 25
- Weekly Metropolitan Division Snapshot: 12/24/2023 - 12/30/2023 Dec 24
- The Clock Strikes Timo Time Twice as Devils Defeat Red Wings 3-2 Dec 23
- 2023-24 Gamethread #32: New Jersey Devils vs. Detroit Red Wings Dec 23
- The Devils Have an Inverse Offense Dec 23
- Game Preview #32: New Jersey Devils vs. Detroit Red Wings Dec 23
- Last-Minute Christmas Gift Ideas for the 2023-24 New Jersey Devils Dec 22
- DitD & Open Post - 12/22/23: Mad Online Edition Dec 22
- Devils Choke Possible Comeback in Horrific Third Period For a 6-3 Loss to Oilers Dec 21