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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Jacques Lemaire isn't having a
problem handicapping the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
If the New Jersey Devils continue playing the way they have been
the last few weeks, they've got a great shot at going back to the
Stanley Cup finals.
|  | | Zac Bierk uses his stick to stop Patrik Elias' shot, but the Wild's third-string goalie allowed six goals on 27 shots in the loss to the Devils. |
Sergei Brylin and Patrik Elias scored 90 seconds apart in the
first period and the defending champion Devils spoiled Lemaire's
return to New Jersey on Thursday night, beating the Minnesota Wild
6-2 for their sixth straight win.
"If they stay healthy I don't see why they wouldn't be there,"
said Lemaire, who guided the Devils to the Stanley Cup in 1995.
Lemaire said the Devils have everything, good goaltending,
scoring and defense bolstered by the recent addition of former Wild
defenseman Sean O'Donnell.
"They're great," said Minnesota defenseman Brad Bombardir, one
of three former Devils players in the Wild lineup on Thursday.
"They're a fantastic hockey club. They got what it takes from what
you saw last year. I think they're a little bit better than last
year which is pretty scary to say."
Scott Niedermayer, Bob Corkum, Petr Sykora and Randy McKay also
scored, and Martin Brodeur had 26 saves as the Devils remained in
first place in the Atlantic Division, a point ahead of
Philadelphia, which beat Calgary 5-2.
New Jersey is four points behind Ottawa in the race for the best
record in the Eastern Conference. The Senators beat Boston 5-3.
"It's kind of a tough game to play in because they are a
frustrating team to play against," Devils coach Larry Robinson
said of the Wild. "They're on you and they work hard. They don't
give you too much time."
Aaron Gavey and Filip Kuba scored for Minnesota, forced to use
minor leaguer Zac Bierk in goal because Jamie McLennan was sick and
Manny Fernandez had a sprained knee.
The six goals matched the most given up by the defensive-minded
expansion team.
"We were able to get some timely goals and a couple of not so
good goals," Robinson said. "But you take them when you can get
them."
Bierk, who spent this season with Cleveland of the IHL, wasn't
the problem in Lemaire's first return to the Continental Airlines
Arena since resigning as Devils coach after the 1997-98 season.
"It was tough for him," Lemaire said of Bierk. "You know it's
always hard when you leave the minor club and you come up and play
the top team in the NHL."
After Gavey put Minnesota ahead with a power-play goal at 14:33
of the first period, the Devils didn't take long to take the lead
for good.
Brylin tied it 28 seconds later, holding his stick behind his
back to deflect a shot by Alexander Mogilny past Bierk, who faced
27 shots.
Skating into the crease, Elias redirected a Sykora pass in 1:30
later.
Niedermayer stretched the lead to 3-1 midway into the second
with a 40-foot shot. Corkum, acquired from Los Angeles on Feb. 24,
put in his own rebound four minutes later.
Kuba narrowed the lead to 4-2, less than minute after Corkum's
fifth goal, but Sykora and McKay scored in the third period to give
New Jersey its second win over the Wild in as many games this
season.
Game notes
Devils D Ken Daneyko was a healthy scratch, marking the
first game he's missed this season. Elias and defensemen Colin
White and Scott Stevens are the only Devils to play in every game.
... Rookie Marian Gaborik has nine goals and eight assists in the
last 22 games for Minnesota. ... McKay returned to the Devils
lineup after missing four games with a bruised tailbone. ... The
loss ended a two-game unbeaten streak for the Wild (1-0-1).
Minnesota is 2-7-2 in its last 11.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Minnesota Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
RECAPS
Ottawa 5
Boston 3
Philadelphia 5
Calgary 2
Pittsburgh 5
Atlanta 3
New Jersey 6
Minnesota 2
Tampa Bay 1
Carolina 0
Colorado 5
St. Louis 2
Phoenix 3
Vancouver 2
Los Angeles 4
Nashville 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Patrik Elias scores off the sweet pass from Petr Sykora.
avi: 591 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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