Devils Avoid Elimination, Extend Series

Apparently, they weren't ready for the season to end. Facing the prospect of a sweep, the Devils fought back valiantly in a blowout 5-1 Game Four win over the Hurricanes at Continental Airlines Arena Saturday.

They're still alive in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinal which continues later tonight in a quick turnaround at Carolina for Game Five.

"We don't really have time to enjoy this," Game Four hero Scott Gomez told the AP.

"The common goal is we want to come back to Jersey. That's where we're going to start. We want to get another game here, and it just keeps getting harder."

Gomez' two first period power play goals sparked his team to their most dominant period of this series- outscoring the Canes 3-0 and outshooting them 16-7.

With their backs against the wall, the tone was set early by much maligned goalie Martin Brodeur. Harshly criticized throughout the first three games, he was much sharper in halting an early Canes' onslaught during the opening minute. An early stop an Eric Staal deflection set the tone.

The three-time Stanley Cup winner made 19 saves to move into sole possession of third place on the NHL career postseason wins list with his 89th while starting in a record 141st straight game.

"We have to have the attitude that nothing is going to faze us," Brodeur said. "That's how you get in people's heads, when you have success and don't seem happy about it. For us, there is never satisfaction until the end prize is there."

It didn't take long for the Devils to grab the lead. On a power play Gomez drew, he was the beneficiary of a fortuitous bounce. Just six seconds into the man-advantage, Gomez' centering pass for Brian Gionta deflected off a Canes' defenseman to put them ahead at 1:58.

Having struggled mightily in the series on special teams, the Devils continued to turn the tide to go up two when Jay Pandolfo tallied shorthanded at 11:02. John Madden intercepted a Ray Whitney pass at the point and broke in two-on-one with Pandolfo before setting him up. It was Pandolfo's first goal of this postseason and the Devils' fourth SHG.

Finally assuming command, the Devils began to dominate the Canes. Playing very physical, they hit them early and often, continuing to control the action.

When Frantisek Kaberle was sent to the box for hooking, the Devils made him pay on another lucky bounce. This time, Jamie Langenbrunner's one-timer caromed off Gomez past Cam Ward to give them a 3-0 lead with one minute left.

"It's definitely a good feeling," Madden said. "Maybe that's the bounces we needed to turn this thing around and get going."

"They got some bounces to start and then they really rode the wave," Canes' center Doug Weight said. "It was a tough game to come back after giving up three goals."

Ward was attempting to become the first ever goalie to win his first eight playoff starts. However, the rookie netminder was chased by Sergei Brylin only 44 seconds into the second. Taking a pass from Patrik Elias, Brylin came in and beat Ward to put the Devils up 4-0.

John Madden greeted Carolina backup Martin Gerber with his first goal of the series 3:39 later to make it a five goal cushion. It was Madden's fourth of the postseason.

Mark Recchi broke up Brodeur's bid for his 22nd career playoff shutout to conclude the scoring at 11:04.

"Hopefully we're not satisfied with not getting swept," Brodeur pointed out.

"I think that's the drawback for doing this but we definitely have to get a good performance and make these guys make errors like they did today."

Notes: Right wing Viktor Kozlov replaced an injured Grant Marshall to skate for the second time in the series. ... Veteran defenseman Tommy Albelin took the place of a banged up Richard Matvichuk. Albelin will turn 42 next week. ... Canes' left wing Andrew Ladd dressed in place of Josef Vasicek. ... After being outscored 8-1 on special teams during the first three games, the Devils went 3-0 on them in Game 4. They were 2-for-11 on the PP and a perfect 4-for-4 on the PK with their first SHG of the series.