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Pandolfo, Madden help Devils halt four-game slide

Nov 1, 2007 - 3:50 AM NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Jay Pandolfo is becoming quite the offensive force for the New Jersey Devils.

Pandolfo recorded his first career hat trick and set up another goal and linemate John Madden added a tally and three assists as the Devils snapped a four-game losing streak with their first victory at the new Prudential Center, a 6-1 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.

Dainius Zubrus recorded a pair of assists and Martin Brodeur made 21 saves for New Jersey, which totaled just four goals during its skid.

"We need to start scoring goals," Pandolfo said. "Hopefully, this can jump-start us. We're home for a little bit, so if we can just get going here, it would be nice."

Entering the season with just 78 goals in 652 NHL games, Pandolfo notched his sixth career multi-tally game and first since April 1 on Wednesday. With the three goals, Pandolfo leads the Devils with six.

"It's obviously nice," Pandolfo said of the hat trick. "We're still trying to be responsible defensively, and sometimes if you do that, you get more chances offensively. We're trying to play in their end more than we did in the past."

"The first line will score most of the goals, the second line will get credit for you, the third and fourth line were checkers," said Madden, a former Selke Trophy winner and two-time runner-up. "I think you have to be a line that can produce. The way the league's changed, you have to be able to chase the puck and be able to put it in the back of the net."

The 32-year-old Pandolfo, who was a finalist for the Selke Trophy last season, began his career night at 6:20 of the second period, converting a cross-slot feed from Madden during a rush that turned into a 2-on-none after defenseman Dan Boyle was unable to keep up.

With the Devils already owning a 3-1 advantage, Pandolfo wristed a shot over goaltender Johan Holmqvist's left shoulder from the left faceoff circle with nine minutes left in the middle session. He completed the hat trick with 80 seconds remaining in the third, deflecting defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski's shot from the left point past netminder Marc Denis, who replaced Holmqvist after New Jersey's fifth tally.

Coach Brent Sutter was more than pleased with the offensive production from his checking line.

"We want them to be creative with the puck as far as offensive opportunities," he said. "Tonight, they had a great game, not just offensively but defensively, too."

Pandolfo was just as happy to see the Devils record their first win in their new home.

"It's nice to get the first one out of the way," he said. "Hopefully, we can make this a tough place for teams to play."

Madden had given New Jersey a 1-0 lead at 4:32 of the middle session, receiving a backhand pass by Zubrus from behind the net and firing the puck past Holmqvist from the low slot.

"(Zubrus) is a puck-possession guy," Madden said. "He protects the wall. He got a lot of pucks out of there. Tonight, two of the goals were because of his job on the walls."

Sutter's decision to insert Zubrus on a line with Madden and Pandolfo proved to be a good one.

"It was something that we talked about," Sutter said. "Maybe it's a good fit for Zubs. He was pretty good defensively. Those guys cycled the puck and it was more of a new style of game."

The reigning Maurice Richard Trophy winner, Vincent Lecavalier halved Tampa Bay's deficit to 2-1 late in the period. During a power play, Brad Richards kept the puck in the offensive zone at the right point and dished to Martin St. Louis, who passed across the slot to Lecavalier for a one-timer from the top of the right circle with 1:47 to go in the session.

New Jersey erupted for four tallies in the third to secure the victory. Arron Asham began the outburst by tipping a pass from Patrik Elias between the pads of Holmqvist at 7:14 and, after Pandolfo's second of the night, Zach Parise cashed in during a power play with 6:36 to go.

"After (Asham's) goal, we basically fell apart," Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella said. "We're embarrassed right now. ... Up until these last couple of games, we were creating a lot of scoring chances and really giving up very little. Now it's turned on us."

Holmqvist made 22 saves while Denis turned aside two shots for the Lightning, who have lost three straight and six of eight.

"Sometimes you get frustrated, get out of your game plan," Richards said. "It was still a 2-1 game in the third. The other night, it was a 1-1 game in the third. There's a lot more we have to do if we want to win consistently. Obviously, we'd like to do it."