Devils struck by Lightining

Ali Qari

Over the past decade, there has been one thing that has held true for the New Jersey Devils: Martin Brodeur is the backbone of the hockey club. So when the all-star goalie doesn't perform, the Devils have to pray their offensive weapons come to play.

There wasn't enough firepower from New Jersey tonight however, as the Devils lost 3-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning and gave their southern rivals the edge in first round of the Eastern Conference Stanley Cup playoffs.

Brodeur has given up three goals in each of the first three games of the series, a dismal statistic when compared to his 1.89 career playoff goals-against-average. In comparison, Johan Holmqvist, a goalie playing in his first-ever NHL playoff series, has been a clutch performer for the Lightning since his initial 5-goal loss in the first game of the series.

The Devils have been unable to stop offensive powerhouses Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. Lecavalier picked up an assist and his fourth goal of the playoffs, and St. Louis managed three assists.

Though Zach Parise managed to tie the game at two with 16:14 remaining, the Devils were playing catch up hockey all game long, and Vaclav Prospal came back with first goal of the playoffs to edge the Lightning over the Devils.

The game felt over when Richard Matvichuk, playing in his first playoff game, and only second game of the season, took a boarding call with 3:52 left in the game.

In the giveaways category, the Devils ran away with the prize, committing 11 giveaway compared to the Lightning's 4. The usually conservation and calculated Devils were anxious with the puck all game long.

The loss can't be solely laid on the play of Martin Brodeur and his defensive corps however.

The Devils failed to score on the man-advantage, going 0-for-3 and also failing to score on a one minute long two-man advantage.

Without key scoring from the Elias, Gionta and Gomez line, the Devils can't match the Lightning's explosive offensive production. In the past two games, the New Jersey trio has combined for 2 assists and a minus-seven rating.

Without production from the E-G-G line and better play from Martin Brodeur, the Devils will soon be seeing their Cup dreams vanish.