Devils One Win Away From Cup

2003 Playoffs

The nine-goal shootout was nothing like the first four games of the finals that were low-scoring, defensive battles with shutouts and excellent goaltending.

"I don't know where this came from," Ducks coach Mike Babcock said.

Jamie Langenbrunner had two goals for the Devils, who scored more than three goals on Jean-Sebastien Giguere for the first time in the playoffs.

"We knew the pressure was on us tonight, and I think now we've put a little bit on them," Devils coach Pat Burns said. "The team rallied around each other, pushing each other and giving hell to each other, which made my job easier. I could see that on the bench."

New Jersey had more than its share of lucky bounces. One goal went in off the stick of a Duck defender and another deflected in the net off Devils winger Jay Pandolfo's skate.

"This series has been who gets the bounces and the breaks. And we got kinda lucky today," Devils center Scott Gomez said.

Giguere can't be blamed for the loss, but he didn't make the unbelievable stops either. At the other end Martin Brodeur made a key save in the third period when the score was 5-3. However, Brodeau probably should have stopped the Ducks first goal.

"This goalie's been unbelievable for them. Hopefully, we got to his confidence a little bit," Pandolfo said. "We just seem to play well at home. Now we've got some confidence offensively maybe we can take to Anaheim."

Can the Ducks find a way to regroup as the Devils go for the kill? Game Six on Saturday in Anaheim.