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Parise remains hot as Devils edge Maple Leafs

Mar 9, 2008 - 5:20 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Toronto Maple Leafs found out the hard way that Zach Parise is a force with which to be reckoned.

Parise scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner with 48.3 seconds remaining in the third period, as the New Jersey Devils completed a season sweep of the Maple Leafs with a 2-1 triumph on Saturday.

Captain Jamie Langenbrunner recorded a pair of assists and Martin Brodeur made 42 saves for New Jersey (40-23-6), which remained one point ahead of Montreal (38-22-9) for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Mats Sundin scored and Vesa Toskala turned aside 28 shots in his 21st consecutive start for Toronto (30-30-10), which had won five of its previous seven games.

With the loss, the Maple Leafs fell eight points behind the Philadelphia Flyers (35-26-8) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. The Flyers posted a 4-1 triumph over the New York Islanders on Saturday.

The Maple Leafs begin a home-and-home series against the Flyers at home on Tuesday.

"It makes our situation tougher," said Toronto's Alex Steen, who recorded an assist. "We need to come up with two big games against Philly now."

"There's no question about it," Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice said. "It makes our next two (must-win games) if there's any hope."

Toronto also lost at home to New Jersey this past Tuesday, scoring just one goal.

"These two games against the Devils, you get 85 shots and only two goals," Sundin said. "I don't know if that says something about our offense or the goaltender on the other end."

Riding the hot hand of Parise, the Devils took the lead midway through the first period.

During a power play, Langenbrunner grabbed the puck in the right corner and drove to the net before losing control. Parise was there on the right side to knock the loose puck past Toskala at 11:19 for his fourth goal in three games and a 1-0 edge.

"It was the right spot at the right time," Parise said. "Jamie made a good play getting it to the net and I was just sitting there hoping, and it landed right there for me."

After a scoreless second period, New Jersey began to run into penalty trouble. Toronto failed to convert on its first two power-play opportunities but cashed in on the third to forge a tie.

Just 21 seconds after John Madden was called for tripping, Sundin received a pass from All-Star defenseman Tomas Kaberle and unleashed a slap shot from just above the left faceoff circle that beat a screened Brodeur on the short side with 6:16 remaining in the third.

"I was double-screened," Brodeur said. "I knew he was going to shoot it. He made a good shot. It went in the side, over my pad. The timing just wasn't right."

It was the 31st goal of the season for Toronto's captain, who extended his points streak to eight games.

However, Parise struck again in the final minute of the third. Following a mad scramble in front, Parise swooped in and poked a loose puck under a falling Toskala for his 30th of the campaign and a 2-1 lead.

"I knew that he didn't have a hold of (the puck)," Parise said. "I was kind of surprised to see it sitting there between his legs."

"I kind of lost the puck," Toskala said. "I wasn't sure where it was. I was leaning backwards, so I couldn't fully cover it."

It capped the second two-goal performance in three games by the 23-year-old Parise, who has netted 10 tallies in his last 12 contests.

"If the puck is lying there, it's clearly an open puck," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "The puck is available to be had, and Zach put it in the net."

Brodeur made it stand, stopping defenseman Bryan McCabe from point-blank range with six seconds remaining.

"He's been the cornerstone of this franchise for years," Madden said of Brodeur. "He's won three Stanley Cups, and that's why he's the best in the business. We're fortunate to have him, and in a game like tonight, without him we wouldn't have been in the game at all."

"He played great," Sutter added. "He gave us a chance to win again."