Saturday, May 26 Devils look to regroup after Game 1 debacle Associated Press DENVER -- Take notes Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr, Joe Sakic has found the way to score against the New Jersey Devils. After shutting out the Pittsburgh stars in the Eastern Conference finals, New Jersey was swamped by Sakic. His two goals (on six shots) and assist carried the Avalanche to a 5-0 victory Saturday night in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals. Game 2 is Tuesday night. “ Our top line had some chances early, but it was our inability to control their top line that was part of the difference. Most of all, I think we got outhustled. ” — Devils coach Larry Robinson "It's going to be a short series if our team doesn't come out," forward Scott Gomez said. Whether it was the high altitude, cross-country flight or up-tempo play of the Western Conference champions, the Devils were dominated in the same way they eliminated Pittsburgh -- allowing 30 shots to their own 25. New Jersey's 'A' line of Jason Arnott, Patrik Elias and Petr Sykora couldn't muster any offense. Elias had a team playoff-record 10-game point streak snapped, while Sykora had a run stopped at nine. "Our top line had some chances early, but it was our inability to control their top line that was part of the difference," Devils coach Larry Robinson said. "Most of all, I think we got outhustled." The second worst playoff shutout in team history was quite different from the Devils' 7-3 victory over Dallas in Game 1 of last year's finals. By the time the second period was over Saturday, goalie Martin Brodeur had faced 21 shots, as many as he saw in five of the previous six games. The only time a New Jersey opponent topped 21 shots in that stretch was Game 2 against Pittsburgh, when the Penguins recorded 23 and scored four times in New Jersey's last loss. "These guys, they work," forward John Madden said. "They have a lot of heart over there, a big difference from Pittsburgh who just sits back and waits for turnovers." Colorado reached 23 shots early in the third. The Avalanche's fourth goal was scored at 5:36 of the period on shot No. 25. Steven Reinprecht scored on the final shot with 2:24 left. "They played well, they skated well and we didn't have much energy for whatever reason," defenseman Ken Daneyko said. Brodeur and the Devils had never lost a road game in the finals, going 5-0 by beating Detroit twice in 1995 and Dallas three times last year. Brodeur entered with a 1.42 goals-against average in 10 career games in the finals, tops among goalies who played that many. His finals record dropped to 8-3 as he was outdueled by childhood idol Patrick Roy. Sakic scored the series' first goal with 8:53 left in the first, and recorded four of Colorado's 14 shots in the period. Instead of having the full defensive line led by Bobby Holik on the ice, Holik was grouped with Alexander Mogilny and Sergei Nemchinov. The offensive-minded Russian pair, which has just one goal in the last nine games, allowed Milan Hejduk to make a spinning pass to the driving Sakic. Holik had not yet been joined by regular checking linemates Randy McKay and Sergei Brylin. McKay The Devils were further damaged when McKay fractured his left hand in a collision with Colorado defenseman Ray Bourque in the second period. "Randy's the kind of guy that brings a lot to the table," Madden said. "His leadership is especially what we're going to miss." The Devils, who moved from Colorado in 1982, had their night further spoiled when the Avalanche made it 3-0 in the second period. Chris Drury made it a two-goal game just 34 seconds after the Devils failed on their second of six power plays. Sakic scored his second during 4-on-4 play with 4:54 left in the period. He cut from right to left, skating defenseman Scott Stevens to the ice, before beating Brodeur. The belief was that New Jersey would be able to shut down Sakic because it would not have to worry about matching up with another line normally centered by the injured Peter Forsberg. That was not the case in the opener as Sakic also helped set up the fourth goal, scored by defenseman Rob Blake on a power play. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

ALSO SEE Avs overwhelm Devils in Stanley Cup opener Devils' McKay 'doubtful' to return in Stanley Cup finals Avs find a winning combination in Roy and Sakic