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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Randy McKay and Bobby Holik got
their acts together just in time for the New Jersey Devils.
McKay took a pass from Holik and scored from close range at 5:31
of overtime as the defending Stanley Cup champion Devils beat
Toronto 6-5 on Saturday night to even the Eastern Conference
semifinal at one game apiece.
|  | | After receiving the perfect pass from Bobby Holik, all Randy McKay had to do was tip the puck past Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph for the OT winner. |
Until the goal, McKay and Holik played one of their worst
playoff games ever. They were on the ice for four of Toronto's
goals, including three in the final 14:01 of regulation.
"Even if we had won that game 5-4, I would have been in a bad
mood," McKay said. "I was on for four goals against and made some
mistakes. It wasn't my night and this was the biggest game of the
playoffs."
Sitting in the locker room after the third period, teammates
told the two to fight back.
"It was no big deal," said Scott Gomez, who had a goal and two
assists. "We kept saying: `Who's going to get it.' We kind of
joked that they owed us one, and they came through."
Sergei Bryan set up the game winner, blocking a shot by kA Berg
at the right point with Toronto on the attack. It set up a 4-on-2
that eventually became a 2-on-1. Bobby Holik carried the puck
toward goaltender Curtis Joseph and then feathered a pass across
the crease that McKay tapped into an open net.
"Holik, I thought he might shoot it," said Joseph, who had
allowed only three goals in the Maple Leafs first five playoff
games. "He swung it around with the long reach. I cheated a little
bit on McKay but he got it up."
Alexander Mogilny had two goals and three assists, while Brian
Rafalski and John Madden also scored for the Devils.
"There is no doubt we dodged a big bullet," Devils goalie
Martin Brodeur said. "There is no way around it. We put ourselves
in that situation and we got ourselves out. This is something that
is real nice for us and tough for them."
Mats Sundin and Steve Thomas scored twice each and Danny Markov
once for Toronto, which had won five straight playoff games.
Maple Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph had allowed only three goals in
those five games.
The best-of-seven series shifts to Toronto for games on Tuesday
and Thursday.
"We got the split," Joseph said. "We're going back to our
building and hopefully, we'll get the job done. Nobody said it
would be easy."
The Devils looked to be in complete control after Mogilny capped
his five-point night with his second goal for a 5-2 lead early in
the third period.
The Maple Leafs never gave up, though, and forced overtime by
scoring three goals in the final 14:01 of regulation.
"It's exciting to rally back like we did," Sundin said.
"That's why it hurts a little more when you end up losing the
game."
Thomas, who started the comeback at 5:59 of the third period,
got the tying goal with 23 seconds left on a snap shot from right
in front after Sergei Berezin took the puck off Holik's stick
Sundin, who had ignited Toronto's four-goal third period with a
short-handed goal, had gotten the Maple Leafs to 5-4 by one-timing
Thomas' pass from behind the at 9:33.
The Devils, who were shut out 2-0 in Game 1, beat Joseph four
times in the second period for a 4-1 lead.
Gomez, who also had two assists, showed his teammates that
Joseph could be beaten at 2:58 of the second period.
Joseph made a great save on a point-blank shot by Mogilny.
Defenseman Ken Daneyko intercepted Tomas Kaberle's clearing attempt
and Gomez deflected his shot past Joseph despite being sticked in
the face by Bryan McCabe.
Once the Devils knew "Cujo" could be beaten, they poured it
on.
Rafalski scored from the left faceoff circle on a shot that
seemed to fool Joseph at 5:25.
Mogilny got his first goal about 30 seconds after a Toronto
power play ended. Gomez made the big play with a pass that sprung
Mogilny on a breakaway at 9:27.
Mogilny then made the pass that set up Madden's breakaway goal
at 15:04 for a 4-1 lead.
The third period was a wide-open affair.
Sundin, who didn't score in a six-game series against New Jersey
last year, scored a short-handed goal in the opening minute to make
it 4-2.
Mogilny restored the three-goal lead on the same power play,
converting a nice pass by Gomez for his fourth of the playoffs.
Markov put Toronto up 1-0 at 8:30 of the first period. The
defenseman came in from the left point and beat Devils goalie
Martin Brodeur after taking a cross-ice pass from Gary Roberts.
Game notes
The Devils have sold out each of their five playoff games.
... The game was delayed twice by broken glass on the side boards.
... Joseph allowed three goals on 155 shots in these playoff,
including a first-round sweep of the Ottawa Senators.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
Maple Leafs-Devils Series Page
RECAPS
Pittsburgh 3
Buffalo 1
Colorado 2
Los Angeles 0
New Jersey 6
Toronto 5
AUDIO/VIDEO
 A beautiful feed by Bobby Holik to Randy McKay gives New Jersey the overtime win.
avi: 1380 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
With 23 seconds remaining, Steve Thomas' ties the game with his second goal.
avi: 1340 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
Mats Sundin scores 29 seconds into the third, but Alexander Mogilny retaliates 38 seconds later.
avi: 1880 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
New Jersey's Scott Gomez and Brian Rafalski score 2:27 apart to take the lead.
avi: 1830 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
Danny Markov puts Toronto on the board first on a centering pass from Gary Roberts.
avi: 842 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
John Madden scores the Devils' fourth goal of the period on a feed from Alexander Mogilny.
avi: 902 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
Randy McKay and Ken Daneyko comment on the Devils' overtime victory over Toronto.
avi: 1770 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
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