Inspired Devils respond with three-goal third
BY RICH CHERE STAR-LEDGER STAFF
Jamie Langenbrunner could feel the difference the moment he stepped onto the ice for warm-ups.
In a building that has had too many quiet nights and too many empty seats this season, there was a feeling of something special last night as the Devils brought back many members of their first Stanley Cup championship team from 1995.
‘‘There was a buzz right from the warm-ups, ’’Langenbrunner said. ‘‘You could tell people were excited to see those guys come back. And rightly so. They put this team on the map.’’
There were Scott Stevens, Randy McKay and Mike Peluso, who took part in the pregame ceremony and stayed around to personally deliver autographed jerseys to several lucky fans in the crowd of 18,589.
Ken Daneyko, Bruce Driver, Valeri Zelepukin, Shawn Chambers, Chris McAlpine, Tommy Albelin and Tom Chorske all brought a snippet of the spring of ’95 back to the Meadowlands.
So it came as no surprise that the Devils played a game worthy of those past champions when they scored three goals within a span of 2:31 during the third period and then held on for a 3-2 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres’ lead has been whittled down to four points, with the Devils having one game in hand.
‘‘It was a matchup of numbers one and two,’’ goalie Martin Brodeur said. ‘‘When you play against the best and you’re close, you try to make a statement. I think we did. The guys have to feel good about themselves.’’
The Sabres brought a 1-0 lead into the third period, which should not have been the case because Patrik Elias seemingly scored a goal midway through the first period that was not allowed.
Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller made a glove save on the Devils captain from point-blank range after a cross-crease pass from Brian Gionta. However, replays showed that Miller’s glove may have been inside the right post when he gloved the power-play shot.
Play was not halted for a review and the Devils did not complain very much.
‘‘It happened that quick. I was just surprised he got it,’’ Elias said. ‘‘I think it was hard for the referees and everybody to see where his glove was. I think it’s up to the league to call and review it.’’
Coach Claude Julien said: ‘‘We made sure we didn’t let that distract us. It’s one of those situations where you can’t do anything about it. Why dwell on it?’’
Miller was sensational, but his mastery ended early in the third period. After a near-miss by Brian Rafalski, Sergei Brylin got the puck out to the point for a Colin White shot with John Madden in front of Miller. After his first attempt was stopped, Madden squeezed the rebound under Miller’s arm.
Miller and Sabres coach Lindy Ruff argued that the whistle should have blown.
‘‘I’m unhappy with it,’’ Ruff said. ‘‘It was clear that (Miller) had it in his glove. It’s obvious the whistle should have went on the play. What are you going to do? After they call it a goal you’re going to rant and rave? He saw it. He was standing right there.’’
Madden said: ‘‘I could still see the puck. He didn’t actually have it.’’
It was a break for the Devils.
‘‘It burst the bubble of the goalie,’’ Brodeur said. ‘‘He was playing unbelievable. He thought there should be a quick whistle and it didn’t happen.’’
Twenty-three seconds later the Devils took the lead on a Langenbrunner shot that deflected off Sabres defenseman Dmitri Kalinin’s right skate and landed in the net.
With the crowd still rumbling, Parise gave the Devils a 3-1 lead by scoring his 20 th goal on a slap shot from the top of the left circle that beat Miller on his glove side.
Parise’s goal proved vital as the Sabres pulled to within one on Teppo Numminen’s goal at 16:02 and then kept the pressure on.
Notes:
Jim Dowd was again a healthy scratch, which was a shame since he was a key member of the ’95 Cup team. Dowd sat as rookie Rod Pelley played his second NHL game. Pelley’s parents couldn’t attend his debut in Philadelphia, but his dad, Fred, flew in from British Columbia for last night’s game. ... Elias’ parents were visiting from the Czech Republic. His mother (Zdenka) attended her first Devils game while his dad (Zdenek) saw his second.
Sabres captain Chris Drury made Brodeur look bad on the first goal of the game. Drury drew Brodeur out of his crease near the right circle and continued behind the net before wrapping the puck around the far left post for his 30 th goal.
Rich Chere may be reached at rchere@starledger.com.
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Positive press about Newark, NJ and NJ Devils
Originally Posted by Eric Marin
Just look at Marcus Naslund, who was my favourite player until his contract with the Canucks was not renewed and he was picked up by the lousy Rangers. He used to be amazing, and now he has a moderately okay 46 points, but his +/- is -10.
