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BOX SCORE
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Now the defending
champion New Jersey Devils are in danger of losing more than a
player.
Lord Stanley's trophy is slipping from their grasp.
|  | | Toronto's Shayne Corson, left, tumbles after being pushed into Devils goalie Martin Brodeur, which led to Tomas Kaberle's game-winning goal with 29.4 seconds left. |
Tomas Kaberle's controversial goal with 29.4 seconds to play
lifted the Maple Leafs past the Devils 3-2 on Saturday night, pushing
New Jersey to the brink of playoff elimination.
Game 6 will be played Monday night in Toronto. If a seventh game
is necessary, it will be Wednesday at the Continental Airlines
Arena.
"These guys have to close us," Martin Brodeur said after the Devils
fell behind 3-2 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal.
"We have to come back, but the pressure is on them."
The Maple Leafs got the lead in the series by overcoming the
suspension of Tie Domi for a cheap-shot hit on Scott Niedermayer
late in Game 4, and then getting a crucial no-call from referee
Bill McCreary on Kaberle's first goal of the playoffs.
Kaberle's shot from the left faceoff circle went into the net
seconds after Shayne Corson bowled over Brodeur in goal.
McCreary, who earlier in the game nullified a goal by Devils
forward Patrik Elias because of goaltender interference against
Jason Arnott, ruled Devils defenseman Colin White pushed Corson
into Brodeur.
Brodeur argued the call with McCreary.
"It's not fun," Brodeur said. "Hopefully, you want to be able
to try to see the puck and try to stop the puck. Whatever reason, I
was knocked down; it's frustrating when you don't get a chance to
even see the pass or the puck coming at you."
The last thing Brodeur saw was Darcy Tucker with the puck behind
the net after taking a pass from Corson, who then drove to the net
and crashed into the goaltender.
"I thought it should count right from the start," Corson said.
"I was just going to the net and Colin White cross-checked me into
his own goalie. There's nothing I can do. I tried my best to stay
out of the crease."
White disputed that.
"I'm trying to play him off the side and he just kept going,"
White said. "He didn't try to hold anything back, either. He just
fell into Marty."
Andy Van Hellemond, the NHL director of officiating, said White
took Corson into the net.
"In releasing him, Corson's on one leg, goes over the goalie,
and is going over the goalie at the same time the shot is taken and
the puck goes into the net," Van Hellemond told a pool reporter.
The ruling will force the Devils to rally again if they want to
repeat as champions. A year ago, they overcame a 3-1 deficit
against Philadelphia in the conference final en route to winning
their second Stanley Cup since 1995.
The late controversy seemed fitting, considering how Game 4
ended. Domi hit Niedermayer with an elbow late in Toronto's 3-1 win
on Thursday night.
Niedermayer sustained a concussion and missed Game 5. Domi was
suspended by the NHL for the rest of the playoffs, although he
appeared here at a news conference and apologized, crying several
times.
Bryan McCabe and Cory Cross also scored for Toronto, which got
all its goals from defensemen.
"We were in the same position last year and we lost the fifth
game at home," Kaberle said. "We were trying to win this one and
turn it over, which has happened, and now we have the big game at
home."
Petr Sykora and Arnott scored for New Jersey, which hurt itself
early trying to avenge Domi's hit.
Down 2-0 and struggling to find some offense, Sykora got the
Devils going with a somewhat-disputed goal at 12:43 of the second
period.
Yanic Perreault collected a loose puck behind his net and
started to skate up ice. Sykora hooked him from behind, causing a
turnover. Elias got the puck at the top of the left circle and hit
Sykora with a pass that he redirected past Curtis Joseph.
Arnott tied the game a little more than four minutes later with
the Devils holding a two-man advantage.
Six seconds after Corson was penalized for cross-checking,
Sykora one-timed Brian Rafalski's pass off the goalpost. Joseph
could not find the rebound in the crease and Arnott swooped in and
wedged it into the net.
The Devils' recklessness hurt them in the opening period.
On their second power play, McCabe and Mats Sundin passed the
puck back and forth before McCabe beat Brodeur with a shot from the
right circle.
Cross made it 2-0 at 4:33 of the second period after the Devils
had trouble clearing their zone.
Elias appeared to get New Jersey back in the game a little more
than a minute later when his 35-foot shot found the net. But
McCreary waved off the goal, ruling Arnott backed into Joseph,
knocking him out of position.
"I barely touched him," Arnott said.
Game notes
Ken Sutton replaced Niedermayer in the Devils' lineup. It
was the first playoff action for the nine-year veteran since 1996
with St. Louis ... Devils coach Larry Robinson and Leafs coach Pat
Quinn both put more muscle in the lineup. Dave Manson dressed as a
seventh defenseman for the Leafs, but played wing on a fourth line.
Jim McKenzie dressed for New Jersey, but played little ... Cross
now has two goals in the playoffs after getting three in the
regular season. If you count the one he deflected into his own net
in overtime of Game 3 of this series, it's three.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
Maple Leafs-Devils Series Page
Devils get caught chasing Domi's shadow
Tearful Domi apologizes, says suspension too harsh
NHL hits back: Leafs' Domi out for rest of playoffs
RECAPS
Buffalo 3
Pittsburgh 2
Toronto 3
New Jersey 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Tomas Kaberle scores with 29.4 seconds left in the third to give Toronto the win.
avi: 1700 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
Petr Sykora causes a turnover and then redirects a Patrik Elias pass for a Devils' goal.
avi: 900 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
Cory Cross puts Toronto ahead 2-0 with some great puck-handling skills.
avi: 1150 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
The Devils' Jason Arnott knocks in the loose puck to tie the game.
avi: 1150 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
Bryan McCabe blasts a slap shot past Martin Brodeur for a power-play goal.
avi: 1340 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
Toronto Maple Leafs news conference
RealVideo: 56.6
 Coach Pat Quinn felt the Leafs got some momentum from some early New Jersey penalties.
wav: 139 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
It's do-or-die time for Martin Brodeur and the Devils who are down 3-2 in the series.
wav: 114 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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