Zach Parise opened the scoring in the second period before the Devils opened the floodgates with three goals in the final period from Steve Bernier,Travis Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk.
The series returns to Florida Saturday night with an unusual 6:30 start time.
Hell Raisers
1) Martin Brodeur bounced back from his benching with an incredible outing that broke his tie with Patrick Roy for the most playoff shutouts.
Brodeur was solid and made several key glove saves and was even helped by the pipe a time or two.
2) Brodeur also assisted on a goal,which gives him two for the series.
The greatest puckhandling goalie of all time has a total of 10 assists in the playoffs,which is second to Grant Fuhr in that category...
3) Nice to see Steve Bernier hit the scoreboard with the third period goal that started the barrage of goals.Bernier had just one regular season goal,but always seemed to be working hard and has erased the rap of being someone that took shifts off...
4) Special teams began to bounce back with the Parise and Kovalchuk goals coming from the power play.
The Parise goal was especially interesting as it was tipped by Travis Zajac and then Parise off the initial shot by Marek Zidlicky.
Sticks on the ice causes deflections sounds simplistic,but it is very effective...
5) Two assists for the usually offensively challenged Bryce Salvador,who along with Marek Zidlicky has gotten better as the series has gone on.
6) Finally,the series down to a best of three.
The Devils will have to win one game in Florida.
I feel safe in saying that they can do that,but I am not sure that I would want to bet on it.
The Florida power play was the most effective part of the Panther offense until Game four,so that unit might be what decides this series....
Photo credit:AP Photo
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