Devils Beat Rusty Ducks

2003 Playoffs

"Playing my old team, that gave me some jump," Friesen said.

The Ducks were playing for the first time in 11 days and it showed. Anaheim mustered only eight shots in the first two periods while giving up numerous odd-man rushes.

"In all fairness to them, you could see they had a little bit of rust on the blades," Devils coach Pat Burns said. "As the game got on, they got a little better."

"A layoff is an excuse," Ducks coach Mike Babcock said. "We had an opportunity tonight. They were better than us. They were hungrier, and you have to give them credit."

Martin Brodeur earned his 18th career postseason shutout without having to work too hard. He also has five shutouts in the playoffs, one short of the record set by Dominik Hasek set last year.

"The shutout isn't important, the win is," Brodeur said. "Now, our magic number is three."

"You don't usually think the first one's going to be the game-winner, but with Marty, it often is," Friesen said. "Playing with Giguere, I got to know some of his tendencies. He plays just like Patrick Roy, anything you shoot below 18 inches, forget about it."

Game Two is Thursday at New Jersey.