Canes Put Devils On Brink

They're going to need another streak to stay alive. That's what the Devils are facing after falling to the Hurricanes 3-2 in Game Three at Continental Airlines Arena Wednesday night. The loss was their third straight and put them on the brink of elimination- facing the unenviable task of needing to comeback from 0-3 down in this Eastern Conference Semifinal series.

"When you lose a game like this, at this stage to put yourselves three down, you don't feel good," GM/Coach Lou Lamoriello expressed to the AP.

Only twice in NHL history have teams ('42 Leafs, '75 Islanders) rallied from such a deficit. Most recently, the '04 Red Sox cameback from three down to beat the Yankees in the ALCS. That along with the Devils' recent 15-game win streak before this slide are things to draw on.

"Sometimes there is a lot to be said and sometimes you really don't have to say anything, because we all know the situation we're in and what we have to do," emphasized Patrik Elias.

In their playoff history, the Devils have never been swept. In the '93 Patrick Division Semifinals, they forced a fifth game against Pittsburgh before losing in the same situation. They'll try to avoid a sweep Saturday and extend this series back to Carolina for a Game Five.

"The goal right now is to get back to Carolina. Nobody wants the season to end," Scott Gomez said. "Stranger things have happened in sports."

To keep the season alive, the Devils must be better on special teams. Unlike their opening round sweep of the Rangers in which they dominated, the Devils have been outplayed by the pesky Canes. Carolina entered last night having connected on six power plays to the Devils' none. Unfortunately for New Jersey, that disturbing trend continued with Carolina converting twice more on the man-advantage to just once for the Devils.

After Elias connected for the Devils' first PPG of the series to tie the score at two 8:45 into the second, a loss of discipline would stall their momentum and ultimately cost them the game. After Colin White and Matt Cullen traded minors 18 seconds apart, Jamie Langenbrunner took an unnecessary highsticking double minor late in the period.

It only took 1:04 for the Canes to capitalize. They did so with a bit of luck to go ahead. On a tricky double deflection of an Eric Staal point shot which went off Sergei Brylin's stick, Rod Brind'Amour's redirect between his skates snuck through to give the Canes the lead with 1:01 remaining. It was his second goal of the series (both power play).

"I wasn't trying to do anything special, just change direction and hopefully it goes in," Brind'Amour said. "That's pretty much what happened."

"You have to find a way to stop those bounces and take over the game, and not let them get those opportunities," John Madden said.

Despite outshooting Carolina 15-7 in arguably their best period of the series, the Devils trailed entering the third.

They would get two chances on the PP to tie the game but couldn't cash either in. The best opportunity was an Elias one-timer from the point which went off the crossbar. It was the closest they came to tying it.

They couldn't break through a rugged Carolina D which made Cam Ward's life easy. In joining Boston's Tiny Thompson as just the second goalie to win his first seven postseason starts, the 22-year-old rookie netminder only needed to stop seven Devils' third period shots en route to a 28 save performance.

It didn't start out badly. For the second game in a row, the Devils took the lead early on thanks to Brylin. Taking a Langenbrunner feed which Carolina forward Ray Whitney overskated, he beat Ward five-hole to put them in front at 2:57.

But momentum would prove to be shortlived. Just 5:19 later, Cullen surprised Brodeur with a backhand for a PPG to tie it. The goal seemed to deflate the Devils. Less than two minutes later, Justin Williams intercepted a Richard Matvichuk pass and fired a wrister from the high slot past Brodeur to put the Canes ahead.

Notes: Taking his third straight loss, Brodeur finished with 21 saves. ... After missing the last five games with a groin injury, White returned to the lineup replacing Ken Klee on the blueline. In 19:54, he had four hits and five blocked shots. ... Devils outhit the Canes 34-15. ... In a losing effort, Elias had a goal and assist. His 14 points (6-8-14) lead the postseason.