NEW JERSEY VS. TORONTO BUFFALO VS. PITTSBURGH COLORADO VS. LOS ANGELES DALLAS VS. ST. LOUIS

Monday, April 30 Updated: May 2, 12:10 PM ET Gomez more effective second time around By Brian A. Shactman ESPN.com TORONTO -- Last year at this time, the Devils were heading into Game 3 against Toronto with their Eastern Conference semifinal series tied, when coach Larry Robinson approached the NHL's rookie scoring champion and asked him if he might enjoy the view of the playoffs better from a luxury box. Robinson was that unhappy with Scott Gomez. Gomez is celebrating more than just goals against the Leafs this year. The Devils are in the same situation this year -- their series with the Leafs tied at 1, heading into Game 3 at Toronto -- but no wakeup call is necessary for the 21-year-old center. Saturday's Game 2 may have been Gomez's best playoff game. He had a goal and two assists in the 6-5 overtime win. But more importantly, in a game laden with playoff-level intensity, Gomez stood out. Robinson's "motivational" speech from last season is still serving its purpose. "Last year, I probably was watching most of the games on the bench. I don't know if I'd be in the lineup this game (Game 3) last year," Gomez said. "This is the game last year where they asked me if I wanted to watch. Larry had a talk with me and wanted to know if I wanted to sit in the stands and watch. I said 'No.' "If that doesn't light a fire under your ass, I don't know what does. That was a turning point (for me)." Gomez went from being almost a non-factor in Games 1 and 2 -- no points and three shots -- to scoring twice and adding three assists the final four games of that series. "If I recall correctly, what happened last year was that he stopped skating," Robinson said. "His game is skating and moving. When he gets his legs moving, darting in and out, he's a tough guy to defend. He stopped doing that. He was trying to play the game a bit too cute. "Somehow, cute and playoff hockey don't go hand in hand." “ He's starting to realize there's more to just going out there and getting your points. ” — Devils forward Randy McKay on Gomez Despite his offensive burst against Toronto last season, Gomez finished the 2000 postseason with 10 points (4-6-10) in 23 games. This year, he is averaging just over a point a game with three goals and six assists in eight games. He also has a plus-minus rating of plus-9. However, it's the contributions Gomez is making away from the puck that are earning him recognition from his teammates. "It's not just the points he got," teammate Randy McKay said of Gomez's performance in Game 2. "He got those because he did a lot of little things out there, being feisty and aggressive. He's starting to realize there's more to just going out there and getting your points. There's a lot of little things that we need to do. Not that he does it all the time, but he's starting to realize that in a big game like that he played his best hockey." The Devils needed to win Game 2 on Saturday to avoid falling behind 2-0 as the series headed to Toronto. Gomez set the tone in the game by tying the game with the first of the Devils' four goals in the second period and by continuously attacking Toronto's net with abandon. Gomez was so aggressive that some of the Maple Leafs thought he should have been penalized for goaltender interference. "He did spend a fair amount of time in there, but I just need to play around him and get the job done," said Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph. "If he spends a lot of time in there, he'll (eventually) get called." Game 2 wasn't the first sign Gomez has learned from his rookie playoff experience. In New Jersey's shutout loss in Game 1, Gomez -- better known as a playmaker with 100 assists his first two NHL seasons -- led the Devils with five shots on net. It's obvious to both sides that on a Devils team stocked with talent, Gomez cannot be overlooked. "I think he's playing a much different game right now," Robinson said. Gomez isn't a big player -- he's listed at 5-foot-11, but appears closer to 5-foot-9. Yet the way he has played against the Maple Leafs has solicited plenty of respect and colorful comments from Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn. "He's got (guts)," Quinn said of Gomez's ability to cause a stir in front of Joseph, "and he's willing to go in there." Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. He can be reached at brian.shactman@espn.com. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories