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  • Friday’s Three Stars: Devils head to Final; Brodeur, Kovalchuk the difference in Game 6

    No. 1 Star: Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils

    This time last year, Kovalchuk was a punchline, a cautionary tale of what happens when you spend an untold fortune on one guy. Now, he looks like he's worth it. Kovalchuk had a game-high 6 shots, he scored a beautiful powerplay goal, and he picked up an assist on Adam Henrique's game-winner in a 3-2 Game 6 victory over the New York Rangers, sending the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final.

    No. 2 Star: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils

    Brodeaur kicked it old-school Friday night, looking like the difference-maker he once was in the Devils' victory. He made 33 saves in the win. This one was my favourite:

    No. 3 Star: Adam Henrique, New Jersey Devils

    Henrique scored his second series winner of these playoffs, banging home a rebound just 1:03 into overtime. He also added 3 blocked shots.

    Honourable mention: Ryan Callahan played his tail off for the Rangers, scoring the game-tying goal ... Brad Richards played a strong game. He also took 28 faceoffs for the Rangers. The rest of the team took 29 combined ... Ryan McDonagh was excellent, with assists on both Ranger goals in just under 30 minutes of action ... here's the handshake line, for those of you that get off on sportsmanship:

    Conn Smythe Watch: 1. Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings; 2. Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings; 3. Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils; 4. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers; 5. Brad Richards, New York Rangers; 6. Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings; 7. Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils; 8. Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils; 9. Travis Zajac, New Jersey Devils; 10. Adam Henrique

    Dishonourable mention: Michael Del Zotto had another rough night, on the ice for both New Jersey goals. It was in keeping with a series where he was on the ice for 8 Devils' goals, including 3 game-winners ... And finally, did this stick ever touch Steve Bernier? A lot of people were saying it didn't, but it's pretty clear that it clips his visor at the very least:

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  • Devils eliminate Rangers in Game 6, ending fear of the past, setting course for the future

    It was all so familiar.

    The New Jersey Devils' 3-2 overtime victory over the New York Rangers was like watching a clip show. The entire affair looked stitched together from old memories.

    First, there was that 2-goal cushion, as the Devils took a commanding lead in the first period of Game 6, just as they had in Games 4 and 5. Ryan Carter opened the scoring, continuing the strong play of the Devils' fourth line by banging home a rebound on a 3-on-1 at the 10-minute mark. Then, 4 minutes later, Ilya Kovalchuk finished off one of the smoothest, sexiest power-play passing plays you're ever going to see to make it 2-0.

    (Seriously, the goal was a sultry sax riff away from being something you can't show during primetime. When it was done, everybody spooned.)

    But any fans with a recollection of 1994 were holding their breath. The Devils led 2-0 in Game 6 then too, people said. This one was retracing the tracks of the past far too eerily for anyone's comfort.

    [Nicholas J. Cotsonika: New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur writes another special chapter in storybook career]

    Sure enough, just as they had in 1994, the Rangers turned the game around and clawed their way back. The second period was a mirror image of the first, with New York matching New Jersey's two first period goals, almost right down to the time they were scored. Ruslan Fedotenko cut the lead in half at the 10-minute mark; Ryan Callahan eradicated the lead 4 minutes later.

    And the Rangers kept coming. They controlled the final 40 minutes of this game, outshooting the Devils 21 to 12. It seemed as though it was only a matter of time before they broke through and scored that third goal.

    But Martin Brodeur could not be stopped. He looked like the best goaltender in the world.

    It was all so familiar.

    Brodeur shut the door in the third period with a throwback performance for the ages. There were pad stacks, sweep checks, and moments when the goaltender looked downright unbeatable. It was vintage Brodeur.

    And then it was Adam Henrique's turn to remind us of what had come before. 1:03 into overtime, the Calder nominee pounced on a loose puck on the goal line and stuffed it past Henrik Lundqvist, giving the Devils the game and the series, just as he did in Round 1 versus the Florida Panthers. That was a 3-2 overtime win as well.

    It was all so familiar.

    But in the end, the Devils don't have to compare this run to anything. They don't have to compare this game to anything. And they don't have to compare their players to past playoff heroes. These guys are playoff heroes now.

    The Devils don't have to look back at all. They don't have time to look back. They've got a Stanley Cup Final to look forward to.

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