Despite loss, Devils remain confident
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA -- The New Jersey Devils haven't lost any
confidence despite letting the Philadelphia Flyers back into their
series.
New Jersey, in a rare defensive lapse, wasted a two-goal lead in
less than three minutes as the Flyers rallied for a 4-3 victory to
even the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night.
|  | | The Devils remain confident that they can beat goalie Brian Boucher and the Flyers. |
The Devils return home for Game 3 on Thursday.
"We lost that game in three minutes. That's the bottom line,"
New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur said. "We lost the game in a
three-minute span. After that, we outplayed them badly."
Rick Tocchet keyed the three-goal outburst in 2:37 that bridged
the end of the second period and start of the third.
He set up Eric Desjardins' goal with 38.8 seconds left in the
second, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Tocchet scored 1:06 into the
third to tie it at 3, then 52 seconds later crashed the net,
pushing defenseman Colin White into the puck as it bounced off his
back for the game-winner.
Daymond Langkow was credited with the goal after 643 hats were
thrown on the ice, prematurely celebrating Tocchet's would-be hat
trick.
"For about a five-minute segment, we lost our composure," New
Jersey coach Larry Robinson said. "We played Flyers hockey,
instead of Devils hockey."
Devils forward Scott Gomez said the team got a bit complacent
after taking a 3-1 lead.
"We had a little lapse, and they're a good team. They took
advantage," he said. "We let down. We took things for granted."
The Flyers scored more than two goals on Brodeur just once in
six games this season. They scored a total of seven in the last
five games against him -- all losses.
"We left Marty out to dry," Gomez said.
Before the series began, New Jersey hoped to gain a split on the
road. After winning Game 1, the Devils set their sights higher.
They left Philadelphia disappointed they missed an opportunity to
take control of the series.
"We can't dwell on this," Gomez said. "We still got the home
ice. Now it's a series."
Devils forward Patrik Elias hopes the team learned it must stay
focused the entire game to beat Philadelphia.
"We weren't disciplined," he said. "It doesn't matter how
much of a lead you have, you have to play disciplined for 60
minutes."
The loss came with a price for New Jersey. Forward John Madden
left the game with a right knee injury after colliding with Keith
Primeau with just over three minutes remaining.
Madden is scheduled to have an MRI on Wednesday.
"It doesn't feel good," Madden said. |
