Three straight losses have Devils on brink of elimination

Ira Podell

Sunday, May 21, 2000 | 11 a.m.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New Jersey Devils were less than 21 minutes from a two-game advantage in the Eastern Conference finals. They never got there, and now are just 60 minutes away from elimination.

The Devils, one of the NHL's best defensive teams, saw a two-goal lead evaporate in Game 2. They followed it with two straight home losses to Philadelphia. New Jersey, which lost to the Flyers 3-1 Saturday night, needs to win the final three games of this best-of-seven series to reach the Stanley Cup finals.

"We're in a situation where there is no other way to play than desperate," said Bobby Holik, the Devils' lone scorer in Game 4. "Maybe that will bring the best out of us."

It all turned bad for the Devils late in the second period of the second game in Philadelphia. New Jersey was protecting a 3-1 lead when Eric Desjardins got free for a goal with just over 38 seconds left in the period.

The Flyers gained life and confidence, scoring twice within the first two minutes of the third period to win. They haven't looked back.

"Things change quick," Devils captain Scott Stevens said. "That's what we're trying to do, change it back."

The shellshocked Devils find themselves in an unfamiliar, desperate situation.

New Jersey, which reached the conference finals for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup in 1995, squandered a 15-point lead over Philadelphia to lose the division and home-ice advantage in this series.

"We put ourselves in this position by not playing smart," Holik said. "We could be right up there with them if we played the way we want to. We're running out of time."

New Jersey played it's game through the first two periods Saturday, but only had a 1-1 tie to show. The Devils broke down in the third and allowed a goal to fourth-line forward Craig Berube with 7:02 left and another to rookie Simon Gagne just 3:42 later.

"We've got to listen to what the coaches say," left wing Jay Pandolfo said. "We did it for two periods, but then we got away from it. They should have broken sticks over our heads until we got the message."

The lost opportunities are gnawing at the Devils, especially because they feel they are the superior team.

"There's no doubt in my mind," right wing Randy McKay said. "Now we're going to have to have everything go for us. We have to have our heads on straight and have a little bit of luck."

Holik scored with 7:47 left in the second period to tie it at 1 and goalie Martin Brodeur was having a much better game than in New Jersey's 4-2 loss in Game 3.

"All three goals, there was nothing he could do about," Holik said. "What could he do? He does it all for us."

The Devils, who had only one losing streak of at least three games in the regular season, just couldn't play well enough for long enough to get the lead.

"We started running around in the third period and turned the puck over," Holik said. "For whatever reason, we changed our plan and played into their hands."

New Jersey still has hope that its best will somehow show up again.

"We can still turn it around," defenseman Colin White said. "We haven't proved it in the last couple of games, but we still believe it deep down."