NEWARK, N.J.. — Forget the Stanley Cup coronation for the Los Angeles Kings.
The New Jersey Devils suddenly have made things a lot more uncertain.
How uncertain?
While the Kings are still a victory away from the first Cup in the club’s 45-year history, the Devils are only two wins short of pulling off a feat in the NHL Finals that no team has managed for 70 years, rebounding from a 3-0 series deficit.
The Devils moved halfway to matching that greatest Finals comeback as Bryce Salvador scored on a deflection off a defenseman to give New Jersey a 2-1 victory over the Kings in Saturday’s Game 5.
It was simple hard work by New Jersey.
The first goal came on a smart play by Zach Parise, the second on a deflection and defensively the club got yet another clutch performance from Martin Brodeur.
Parise ended a five-game goal drought on a rare mistake by goalie Jonathan Quick, and Brodeur stopped 25 shots to help the Devils end the Kings’ 10-game postseason winning streak on the road and 12-game run over the past two years, both NHL records.
“We survived out there,” Brodeur said. “I don’t think we played our greatest game, but we found a way to win.”
Parise said the 40-year-old Brodeur was the difference.
“That’s how a goalie wins the game for you,” Parise said about Brodeur.
Justin Williams scored for the Kings, whose once seemingly insurmountable 3-0 series lead has been cut to 3-2. Game 6 is tonight in Los Angeles.
More important, the Devils have the Kings wondering what’s going on for the first time in the postseason. This marks the first time the Kings have lost consecutive games in this year’s playoffs.
