Deep impact

Devils' depth, not Boston's net games, may ruin the Bruins

Forget about Martin Brodeur for a moment, an admittedly difficult task because the Devils' brilliant goalie hovers like a thick fog over any playoff series with which he's involved. And ignore the conga line you might see parading through the Bruins' net by the end of their first-round series against New Jersey. Steve Shields drew the start in Game 1 and played remarkably well, making 26 saves and no major mistakes in a 2-1 loss. Still, Boston coach Mike O'Connell refused to vouch for Shields as the Game 2 starter, leaving open the possibility that Jeff Hackett, who's nursing a broken finger, or the unproven Tim Thomas might play instead. O'Connell's coyness reinforced the notion that goaltending will be the deciding factor in this series.

If Game 1 is any indication, though, net play -- that of Brodeur or whomever starts for Boston -- won't be the Bruins' undoing. Other than a few furious third-period stretches when the Bruins forechecked aggressively, Brodeur (26 saves) barely broke a sweat in the series opener. That's because New Jersey enjoys a huge depth advantage that, combined with the suffocating defensive system the Devils play, limits their goaltenders' vulnerability and leaves Boston with zero margin for error in the opening-round series.

In terms of firepower, the Devils can't keep up with the Bruins' top forwards. Center Patrik Elias, New Jersey's leading scorer this season with 57 points, would rank fifth on Boston's stat sheet. But, as we saw Wednesday night, the Devils thrive because the four lines juggled by Pat Burns are nearly indistinguishable in their discipline and ability to turn the neutral zone into a quagmire. "It was a typical New Jersey Devils win," center Joe Nieuwendyk said. "Everybody contributed. If you have to play a different position, [one] you're not used to, you do it."

The Devils showcased their depth in the first period. On his second shift of the game center Scott Gomez was knocked woozy when he collided with teammate Grant Marshall. (Gomez returned for one shift in the second period before retiring for the night with what the team called whiplash.) Late in the first period Nieuwendyk went to the bench with a bloody nose, leaving Burns with just two centers for a significant stretch early in the game.

The loss of two top-tier forwards would cripple most teams. Burns simply plugged the holes, thanks mainly to the versatile and tireless Elias. After beginning the game at left wing on a line with Gomez and right wing Brian Gionta, Elias logged time on the right side and at center, and had skated with at least seven other forwards by the end of the game. He took only one shot (he also assisted on Jamie Langenbrunner's second goal), but offensive pressure is secondary in the Devils' scheme. "I thought Patrik Elias had a great game," said Burns. "He ended up with three of our four lines at different times. He can play anywhere."

Thanks to some line shuffling by O'Connell, Elias on a few occasions even found himself matched up with Joe Thornton, the centerpiece of the Bruins' attack. In an effort to free his captain from the clutches of New Jersey's checking line of Jay Pandolfo, John Madden and Turner Stevenson (who set a physical tone by blindsiding Boston's Bryan Berard in the game's opening minute), O'Connell moved Thornton onto a line with Sergei Samsonov and Marty McInnis for portions of the second and third periods.

But, because the Devils are so deep at forward, Thornton could never get free. He took just one shot. He was harassed whenever he tried to set up shop behind the net, and he rarely established solid position in front of the net. When asked how the Devils handled O'Connell's attempts at matchup changes, Thornton replied with the understatement of the night. "They reacted pretty good," he said.

When they weren't clogging the Bruins' offensive lanes, the Devils' forwards were pouncing on opportunities. Langenbrunner's first goal was a result of his being in position for a rebound after teammate Jeff Friesen outskated defensemen Nick Boynton to put a point-blank shot on Shields in the first period. Langenbrunner's second, the game-winner, came when Boston wing Michal Grosek gave up the puck on a horrible gaffe in his own end. While the Bruins' lower-line forwards were shaky, the Devils' frontliners were consistently solid from top to bottom.

Sports Illustrated staff writer Stephen Cannella covers the NHL for the magazine and will contribute frequently to SI.com throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs.

 

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