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Devils show no mercy to Senators
New Jersey, May 18: Jeff Friesen`s powerplay goal early in the third period proved the game-winner and Martin Brodeur turned in another outstanding performance as the New Jersey Devils defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-2 in NHL play-off action Saturday (May 17).
New Jersey, May 18: Jeff Friesen's powerplay goal early in the third period proved the game-winner and Martin Brodeur turned in another outstanding performance as the New Jersey Devils defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-2 in NHL play-off action Saturday (May 17).
New Jersey leads the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final 3-1 and can wrap up a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals with a win in Game Five on Monday night (May 19) in Ottawa.
The Senators controlled the first period, out-shooting the Devils 11-3, but it was New Jersey that opened the scoring on a powerplay goal by Grant Marshall at 7:25. Ottawa got that goal back in the dying seconds of the period, however, when defenceman Karel Rachunek scored at 19:45, leaving the game tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes. The Senators continued to pepper Brodeur in the second period, taking the lead for the first time when Vaclav Varada snapped a wrist shot on the short side past Brodeur at 7:08.
The Devils then tied the game on Pandolfo's goal with 3:17 to play in the period. Having been outplayed for most of the first two periods in which goalkeeper Brodeur had saved 21 of the 23 shots he had faced, the Devils scored three goals in the first seven-and-a-half minutes of the third period to push the Senators to the brink of elimination.
Friesen scored the Devils second powerplay goal of the game just 41 seconds into the third period, deflecting a shot past Patrick Lalime to give the Devils their first lead since the opening period.
Less than four minutes later, Patrik Elias drilled a shot past a screened Lalime at 4:17 to give the tight-checking Devils all the offence they would need. They added another goal for good measure, however, as John Madden added a shorthanded marker at 7:35, coverting a pass from Jay Pandolfo off a two-on-none break, making it 5-2.
Bureau Report
The Senators controlled the first period, out-shooting the Devils 11-3, but it was New Jersey that opened the scoring on a powerplay goal by Grant Marshall at 7:25. Ottawa got that goal back in the dying seconds of the period, however, when defenceman Karel Rachunek scored at 19:45, leaving the game tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes. The Senators continued to pepper Brodeur in the second period, taking the lead for the first time when Vaclav Varada snapped a wrist shot on the short side past Brodeur at 7:08.
The Devils then tied the game on Pandolfo's goal with 3:17 to play in the period. Having been outplayed for most of the first two periods in which goalkeeper Brodeur had saved 21 of the 23 shots he had faced, the Devils scored three goals in the first seven-and-a-half minutes of the third period to push the Senators to the brink of elimination.
Friesen scored the Devils second powerplay goal of the game just 41 seconds into the third period, deflecting a shot past Patrick Lalime to give the Devils their first lead since the opening period.
Less than four minutes later, Patrik Elias drilled a shot past a screened Lalime at 4:17 to give the tight-checking Devils all the offence they would need. They added another goal for good measure, however, as John Madden added a shorthanded marker at 7:35, coverting a pass from Jay Pandolfo off a two-on-none break, making it 5-2.
Bureau Report