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Defensive Cup finals erupts in first period of Game 5

Patrik Elias (right) scored one of the Devils' two first-period goals. AP

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The usually dormant first period turned into a scoring frenzy in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals on Thursday night.

The first four games between the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and New Jersey Devils didn't produce one goal in the opening 20 minutes. But the Ducks and Devils each scored twice in the highest output of any period of the series and the best offensive first period in the finals in six years.

Only 12 pucks beat Anaheim goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere and New Jersey counterpart Martin Brodeur as the teams split the first four games of the best-of-seven series.

So much talk before the game centered around how tired the teams might be following cross-country flights between New Jersey and California. But they clearly made the most of the only two-day layoff between games.

Three Stars      SI.com's Jon A. Dolezar gives you his three stars of the Devils' Game 5 win.  Analysis and Opinion  • Darren Eliot: Defenses go AWOL More Stories  • Game 5: Recap | Box Score • Devils pick up sluggish Brodeur • Early goal not enough for Ducks • Pandolfo thought goal would count • Ducks need win in Jersey eventually • First-period offers scoring frenzy • Notes: Home teams remain perfect • Line Analysis: Mighty Ducks | Devils • Goalie Analysis: Giguere | Brodeur  Instant Poll  Who has been the most important player for the Devils in the series? Martin Brodeur Patrik Elias Jeff Friesen Brian Gionta Jamie Langenbrunner Scott Niedermayer View Results

Both Anaheim wins in the series came in overtime of Games 3 and 4 at home. Before Thursday, the Devils had eight goals -- four in the second period and four in third. The Ducks were shut out in the first two games in New Jersey before scoring four times in two games at the Pond.

The clubs combined for three goals in the second period of Game 3. Now they've teamed up for the highest-scoring first period since Detroit and Philadelphia totaled four in Games 2 and 3 in 1997.

Anaheim got things going just 42 seconds in when Adam Oates won a faceoff cleanly back to Petr Sykora, who ripped a shot past from Brodeur from the top edge of the left circle.

The Devils responded at 3:35 as Pascal Rheaume deflected a pass from Turner Stevenson into the Anaheim net. New Jersey needed just 4:10 more to grab the lead. Patrik Elias was wide open in front on a power play, and Brian Rafalski found him for a redirection goal.

Steve Rucchin closed the scoring at 12:50 when he finished a pretty passing play started by Sykora and Paul Kariya. The teams had been reserved early in previous games since the Ducks and the Devils are 10-0 in the postseason when scoring first.

"Every goal is so crucial now, since both teams are so good defensively that we're playing very careful," Kariya said earlier Thursday.

Each team had 11 shots in the first period. The 22 drives made it the most prolific shooting period of the series as well.

 

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