Devils In-Depth - Rd 1 Gm 5 Recap

Anyone who has ever complained about how boring low scoring games are has obviously never watched a 1-0 playoff game. Game 5 between the Devils and the Hurricanes was one for the ages, another chapter in an already classic series.

From the Devils’ perspective, the storylines heading in were tremendous: How will Martin Brodeur, fresh off his first career public meltdown, bounce back from a game in which the winning goal was scored with 0.2 seconds left in the game? How will Andy Greene play after being inserted into the lineup to replace the injured Bryce Salvador? Can the Devils play their way back into control in this series?

Both teams came out firing in the first period, but tonight would prove to be a goaltending duel. Martin Brodeur and Cam Ward both stood tall, including some spectacular highlight reel saves. As has become a common occurrence in this series, the first period was a physical one, including both goaltenders getting run over. Chad LaRose’s collision with Brodeur not only sent LaRose’s skate into Brodeur’s ankle, it also knocked Brodeur’s goal stick across the ice, resulting in a wacky moment which saw a stick-less Brodeur diving across the ice to stop a wide Carolina point shot.

The second period was much of the same, minus the goalie abuse, until the 11:22 mark, when the game’s only goal was scored. What a time for the Devils’ powerplay to click, as it entered the game 1-for-19. Andy Greene, a healthy scratch inserted into the lineup when Bryce Salvador went down after Game 4, had played a solid game so far, but really made his presence felt on the play. Greene threw a shot at the net that David Clarkson deflected home. Clarkson has become quite the clutch performer of late, having also scored the tying goal in Game 4.

The third period did not begin with a Devils’ effort to lock down the game, but as the clock winked down under the four minute mark, it became obvious to the Devils that this was going to end 1-0 as long as they could hold it down. That’s not to say there weren’t some great scoring chances throughout the third, including Cam Ward’s ludicrous glove save on Zach Parise.

Undoubtedly, however, the unsung hero of the third period was Jay Pandolfo, who had the guts to call himself out for not blocking Carolina’s game winning shot last game, and responded by blocking a couple of shots, including one late which could have potentially tied the game. But Marty stopped what got through, Brendan Shanahan cleared the puck once and for all, and the Devils helped Marty earn his 23rd career playoff shutout, tying him with Patrick Roy for the most all-time.

So why wasn’t this the 1-0 game everyone thinks of? Well for one thing, the final shot totals were 44-42 in favor of Carolina, and many of those shots for both sides were quality scoring chances which could have gone in. And in reality, it’s the scoring chances, more so than the goals themselves, which make for excitement within hockey games.

Well, now that that’s over, where does this series go from here? So far, the teams have taken turns winning games, so undoubtedly the early advantage goes to Carolina on their home ice, with their backs now firmly against the wall. It will be up to the Devils to finally break the trend, win one more game on the road, and advance to the second round. It is a task they are certainly capable of, but will not be easy by any means.

Regardless of what happens in Game 6, however, the omens which hang over this series are monumental. The team which has won previous matchups between these two teams has gone on to reach the Cup Finals all three times, but with last night’s Devils win, a new omen has emerged: Tonight’s was the Devils’ fourth 1-0 playoff victory in their history. The other three came in 1995, 2000, and 2003…if you know your Devils’ history, you can find the significance in that for yourself.

Three Stars
1st: Martin Brodeur
2nd: David Clarkson
3rd: Andy Greene

Devils Lead Series, 3-2