Devils are "having fun" with spoiling Kings' party
It has been 70 years since the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Detroit Red Wings and win the Stanley Cup. Now, seven decades later, the Devils are trying to become the first finalist to do the same thing.
New Jersey scored the second victory of the four needed for the comeback Saturday night, nipping the Kings 2-1 in New Jersey to force a Game 6 Monday night in Los Angeles.
"We know the situation we're in," right wing David Clarkson said after the Game 5 win. "We're having fun."
The Kings, who lost on the road for the first time in these playoffs (10-1), return home, where they have failed to finish off an opponent three times in four chances in this postseason, most recently against the Devils last Wednesday night.
But the Devils still have to win two to capture their fourth Stanley Cup and keep the Kings from winning their first.
"It's a difficult thing to get yourself ready for games like that," goalie Martin Brodeur said after playing another strong game. "Now it's been two (must-win games) in a row. It takes a lot out of you, but it is worth it. I think that's what the guys have been concentrating on all day, leaving nothing out there.
"... Now we are going to L.A. again to try to ruin the party again. They are so close to winning the Stanley Cup that I am sure it is getting to them a little bit, having all these chances and not being able to capitalize a little bit. We're looking just to stay alive."
Left wing Zach Parise cashed in on a giveaway at the crease by goalie Jonathan Quick to scored his first goal of the series and, after L.A. tied it, defenseman Bryce Salvador's wrister found its way past Quick and into the net.
The rest belonged to Brodeur, who was great again in recording his 17th career finals win and his 14th victory of these playoffs.
