Give the Devils Their Due - New Jersey Devils hockey team

Defending champ New Jersey is the favorite to make it back to the Finals, but if the past is any indication, that means the Devils will have a hell of a time getting there

THIS TIME, THE NEW JERSEY Devils remembered the opening step in defending their Stanley Cup championship: Make the playoffs first!

Five years ago, New Jersey was looking forward to defending its first NHL title. There was only one problem--they forgot to qualify for postseason play, falling apart down the stretch and ultimately being eliminated from contention at home by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

There's no danger of that situation this time. Though the Devils went through an early slide, they entered the homestretch battling the Ottawa Senators for the lead in the Eastern Conference standings.

But maybe finishing first isn't such a good idea for the Devils. Remember, the last two times they finished first in the East? They didn't make it out of the first round. New Jersey won it all in 1995 as the fifth seed and last year as the fourth, knocking off the first-place Philadelphia Flyers on the way to the Cup both times.

The Devils won't find the road to the Cup a smooth one. The Senators have left their ineptitude of the early '90s far behind and have matured into a top-level team that has the speed to score and the defensive skills to shut down rivals. Philadelphia, which led the Devils 3-1 in the East finals last spring before New Jersey rallied, has pushed the Devils all season in the Atlantic Division race despite the absence of Eric Lindros and John LeClair.

Then there's hockey's only player/ owner. The return of Mario Lemieux has made the Pittsburgh Penguins the NHL's centerpiece team. It's also made them offensive terrors. The question now is whether the Pens' defense and goaltending will hold up at a time when those areas come to the forefront.

As the defending champs, the Devils have to be rated the favorite to get back to the title round. But a second straight berth in the conference finals, much less another Cup, is no sure thing.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

On the ice: Remember the trap-happy Devils? Those days are long gone. The Devils can still shut down opponents, but they've been among the league leaders in goals for the past couple of seasons. The trio of Patrik Elias, Jason Arnott (who scored the Cup-winner last spring), and Petr Sykora can be unstoppable at times. Alexander Mogilny is playing his best hockey since the mid-'90s and has teamed with Scott Gomez to form a formidable second scoring combo. Veterans like Bobby Holik and Randy McKay provide scoring and a physical presence. Scott Stevens is still a rock on defense and leads one of the NHL's best-balanced blue lines.

In the net: At the age of 28, Martin Brodeur already has more shutouts than Hall-of-Famer Ken Dryden and owns a pair of Stanley Cup rings. Brodeur is the perfect goaltender for this team: durable, reliable, and unflappable. His puck-handling skills make it hard for opponents to get a forecheck going after they dump the puck into the Devils' zone, and he has an uncanny ability to shake off the rare bad goal. He's so good that he's often taken for granted.

Behind the bench: Larry Robinson stepped in late last season and took the Devils to the Stanley Cup. The Devils have had their ups and downs during his first full season, but he seems to be the perfect roach for a team that expects to win. Unlike his predecessor, Robbie Ftorek, Robinson tends to keep things on an even keel, so when he erupts, the words carry more weight--his blowup during the Eastern Conference finals last spring turned the team around.

Player on the spot: Scott Niedermayer. For all the Devils' abilities, Niedermayer is the one real puck-carrying defenseman on the roster. It was no coincidence that the Devils struggled early in the season before he resigned with the team, and that the Devils struggled in mid-February when he missed time with a knee problem. He's the one New Jersey defenseman with the speed and skills to join the rush.

Why they may win it all: Experience, talent, and the aura of a champion are a tough combination to overcome. The only problem may be meeting heightened expectations--in their two championship years, the Devils weren't the favorite. If the Devils don't win the Cup again, it doesn't figure to be because they lost it; it will be because someone took it from them. Too many Devils remember the first-round upsets in 1998 and 1999 for this team to take things for granted.

OTTAWA SENATORS

On the ice: When you play the Senators, it often seems like there are seven or eight guys in black, red, and white out there--that's how fast and persistent they are. Radek Bonk provided an offensive boost in the first half and Alexei Yashin stepped up his game in the second half (after not making the All-Star game). Marian Hossa is a blossoming star, Daniel Alfredsson is an elite talent who plays both ends of the ice, and Shawn McEachern adds speed, scoring, and checking. Give the Senators a lead and they'll trap you to death--they may be the best team in the NHL at using speed as a defensive weapon. Wade Redden leads a young and talented group of defensemen that hopes the return of injured Sami Salo will provide the only missing ingredient: a power-play quarterback

In the net: Patrick Lalime has stepped in and staked his claim as the No. 1 goaltender, but he has to prove he can do the job when it matters most. The Senators have no veteran backup--rookie Jani Hurme fills in when Lalime gets a night off. This could be Ottawa's only vulnerable spot

Behind the bench: Jacques Martin is an Adams Trophy (coach of the year) candidate again. He's done a terrific job blending a variety of skills and nationalities into a cohesive unit that buys into his way of playing the game. Martin also defused any bad feelings that could have resulted from Yashin's holdout last season. Martin has assembled an excellent group of assistants, including long-time NHL coach Roger Neilson, and has given them a lot of hands-on authority.

Player on the spot: Yashin has never had a big playoff year. His contract is up after the season and he wants elite money ($8-to-10 million), so Yashin has to prove he's regained his status as one of the NHL's elite players. A Stanley Cup ring would do a lot to show the world he's as good as he says he is.

Why they may win it all: This is a fast, highly skilled, defensively responsible team that's well-coached and rarely takes a night off. The talent to win a Cup is there, but the Senators have never gotten past the second round. Martin's job will be to erase the memories of past disappointments and make sure his team plays up to its abilities.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

On the ice: No Eric Lindros? No John LeClair? No problem. With their top guns from recent years gone due to free agency (Lindros) and injury (LeClair for most of the season, though he should be back for the playoffs), the Flyers were still able to stay in the race for the conference title. Second-year left wing Simon Gagne earned an All-Star berth, power center Keith Primeau presents huge matchup problems for most teams, and Mark Recchi is an offensive buzz-bomb. The Flyers' forwards play a physical, forehecking game that often wears out opponents. Eric Desjardins is one of the best two-way defensemen in the NHL, and Dan McGillis has stepped up both offensively and defensively, leading perhaps the league's largest group of defensemen.

In the net: Brian Boucher was a star in last year's playoffs. Barring injury, this spring he'll be on the bench watching Roman Cechmanek try to lead the Flyers to their first Cup since 1975. Cechmanek, a 29-year-old Czech rookie, has been among the NHL leaders in goals-against average and save percentage all season. Though he sometimes looks a bit awkward, he stops the puck.

Behind the bench: The Flyers were a mess until GM Bob Clarke dumped Craig Ramsey, who led the team within one game of the Finals last spring, and replaced him with former linemate Bill Barber, who had been the coach of the American Hockey League's Philadelphia Phantoms. Under Barber, the Flyers have played with a lot more zest. They're not the Broad Street Bullies of Clarke and Barber's era, but they've got the same combination that paid off 25 years ago--a physical team with a solid defense, excellent goaltending, and a few elite skill players.

Player on the spot: Cechmanek has been excellent all season. But doing the job in the regular season and winning a Stanley Cup are two different things. The St. Louis Blues' Roman Turek stumbled last spring in a similar situation; Cechmanek will have to prove he can do the job when the pressure is really on.

Why they may win it all: Lindros or not, Philly is still one of the NHL's biggest teams, and in the playoffs, bigger is often better. The Flyers have a good combination of size and skill. If their goaltending holds up, they could end the 26-year Cup drought on Broad Street.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

On the ice: Mario Lemieux was the NHL's best player when he left the game in 1997. When he came back, he was still its best player. No one reads the game like Lemieux, and few players in league history have had the combination of physical skills and mental abilities he possesses. His return has revitalized Jaromir Jagr, who appeared to be in a funk before his boss put the skates back on. But the Penguins' best player may be Alexei Kovalev, who's finally playing up to his abilities. Kovalev, Martin Straka, and Robert Lang are a devastating second line that few opponents can deal with. The Penguins also loaded up on big, physical types to protect their gunners, but have to figure out a balance between protecting the stars and taking too many penalties. The defense is big but pedestrian, though Darius Kasparaitis is still among the league's most feared hitters.

In the net: Jean-Sebastien Aubin and Garth Snow shared the goaltending load this season, but neither was able to seize the No. 1 job. Don't be surprised if GM Craig Patrick, one of the NHL's best deadline-day dealers, has someone else in goal for the playoffs.

Behind the bench: Ivan Hlinka, the NHL's first European-trained coach, has been pushed into the background by Lemieux's arrival. Hlinka has coached world and Olympic championship teams, but he's in an unprecedented spot here--a lot is expected of the Penguins and Hlinka's boss is also his best player.

Player on the spot: Lemieux wants another Cup. He also wants a new arena for the team he owns. The hacking and whacking he deplored when he left the NHL is sure to return at playoff time.

Why they may win it all: No team can run and gun like the Penguins, and few can put out two forward lines with Pittsburgh's kind of offensive abilities. If they can turn games into shootouts--and keep Lemieux's aching back healthy--they could go a long way.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

On the ice: Peter Bondra started the season wanting a trade; by the All-Star break, he had inked a new deal to stay in Washington and was playing perhaps the best hockey of his career. Bondra's revitalization gives the Capitals the one thing every playoff team needs: a go-to scorer. Adam Oates is one of the NHL's oldies-but-goodies. He's still a sweet passer and deadly on draws. The line of Jeff Halpern between Ulf Dahlen and Steve Konowalchuk controls play along the boards as well as any trio in the NHL, a key at playoff time. The Caps also get a lot of offense from their defense, especially Sergei Gonchar, who has one of the NHL's biggest shots on the power play.

In the net: Olaf Kolzig is a workhorse--maybe too much of a workhorse. He played in 47 of the Caps' 53 games before the All-Star break, and needs to get a break here and there to avoid exhaustion before the playoffs. Kolzig backstopped the Capitals to the Finals three years ago and, if anything, he's better now than he was then.

Behind the bench: Ron Wilson's teams aren't very exciting to watch, but they win. He regrouped his team after its usual slow start and had the Caps comfortably in front in the weak Southeast Division by mid-February.

Player on the spot: Bondra has to continue producing offensively: Even Kolzig has to have some support, and Washington fans will expect Bondra to live up to his four-year, $18 million deal.

Why they may win it all: Kolzig was good enough to get them to the Finals three years ago, outplaying Dominik Hasek in the process. If he's hot, there's no one the Caps can't beat.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

On the ice: The Leafs added muscle (Gary Roberts and Shayne Corson) to avoid a repeat of last spring's physical wipeout by New Jersey. Roberts also reverted into a goal-scorer. What coach Pat Quinn didn't count on was diminished production by many of his top scorers, including captain Mats Sundin and snipers Perry Berezin and Jonas Hoglund. Defensively, they still lack a go-to presence--someone who can take command of a game. Many players also appear to have been distracted by the Eric Lindros-to-Toronto stories that floated around for much of the season.

In the net: Curtis Joseph is one of the few players in sports who's even better than his already-impressive stats. Joseph has been the Leafs' MVP since he arrived four years ago. He allows the forwards to be more aggressive offensively and covers up a lot of flaws defensively. Like New Jersey's Brodeur, he's reached a point where he's often taken for granted. Unlike Brodeur, he doesn't have the supporting cast to bail him out of a jam, because he probably sees more good scoring chances than any other top goaltender.

Behind the bench: Quinn, who effectively doubles as general manager, has had good regular-season success in his three seasons, but hasn't been able to end the Leafs' Cup drought, which extends to 1967, a year that also marks their last appearance in the Finals. He brought in more muscle this season with the playoffs in mind.

Player on the spot: Sundin has it all: size, speed, strength, and skill. What he doesn't have is a record of playoff success. If the Leafs don't get through at least two rounds, look for frustrated Toronto fans to call for Sundin's departure.

Why they may win it all: Joseph is capable of stealing games--and even a series--all by himself. He'll have to for the Leafs to get anywhere.

BUFFALO SABRES

On the Ice: Miroslav Satan leads an offense that's built to win low-scoring games. The Sabres have gotten unexpected production out of J.P. Dumont and have seen flashes of Maxim Afinogenov's immense talent Doug Gilmour, who says hell probably retire after the season, is still a respected leader and has filled some of the void left by holdout Mike Peca's absence. Alexei Zhitnik leads a defense corps that needs to provide more offense.

In the net: Is this Dominik Hasek's swan song? He's had what is for him an ordinary season (2.30 GAA and six shutouts through mid-February), with rising star Martin Biron getting a little more playing time. Hasek got the Sabres to the 1999 Finals, but hasn't always had his best moments in the postseason. He said before 1999-00 that it would be his last season in the NHL, then changed his mind after missing much of the campaign with injuries and now isn't saying how long he wants to play, though he's been named to the Czech Republic team for the 2002 Olympics

Behind the bench: Lindy Ruff does a lot with what he's got The fourth-year coach has been over .500 every season and has kept the team focused despite the absence of Peca, its captain and best two-way forward. Ruffs teams don't score much, but neither do their opponents--and that's not only because of Hasek

Player on the spot: Hasek has never won a Stanley Cup; it's the one honor that's eluded him.

Why they may win it all: Hasek wants a Cup. Given a few goals at the right time, he's good enough to get it. No one will be eager to play Buffalo in an early-round series as long as "the Dominator" is still around.

BOSTON BRUINS

On the ice: Jason Allison has rebounded from an injury-filled season to become a No. 1 center, and the arrival of All-Star game MVP Bill Guerin has given him a target for his passes. Sergei Samsonov and Joe Thornton have also contributed offensively, making it hard for opponents to key on one line. But the biggest difference since the coaching change that saw Mike Keenan take over for Pat Burns has been a commitment to defense--the Bruins have checked with a vigor not seen for years

In the net: Byron Dafoe is a first-rank goaltender--as long as he's healthy. Keenan loves to ride his No. 1 man, and Dafoe's 13-7-3 record during a string of 25 consecutive starts helped carry the Bruins into the playoff race. Dafoe missed much of February with a hamstring pull that ended the streak and it became obvious that without Dafoe, the Bruins have no prayer.

Behind the bench: Say what you want about Keenan: The man can coach. Keenan took over a team going nowhere under Burns, got everyone going in the right direction, and had the Bruins headed toward a return to the playoffs. Given the mess he found when he got to the Fleet Center, this might be his best coaching job yet.

Player on the spot: It's time for, Joe Thornton, the No. 1 pick in the 1997 draft, to show why he was so highly regarded. The Bruins have been patient with the 21-year-old Thornton, who also has high expectations of himself. The Bruins need him to live up to his potential to get to the next level.

Why they may win it all: Keenan coached the New York Rangers to the 1994 Cup, ending a 54-year dry spell. After that, anything is possible--and the Cup drought in Boston is only 29 years.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

On the ice: Jeff O'Neill has finally emerged as a goal-scorer; of course, playing with future Hall-of-Famer Ron Francis doesn't hurt. The Canes need more from Rod Brind'Amour, who's been a disappointment since coming from Philadelphia for Keith Primeau midway through last season. Sandis Ozolnish gives Carolina an offensive threat from the blue line, but he was minus-18 at the All-Star break largely because he often gets caught up ice.

In the net: With Artus Irbe around, only the Maytag repairman has a lonelier job than Carolina's backup goaltender. The little Latvian is not only one of the NHL's better goaltenders, he's among its most durable, playing 44-of-47 games before the All-Star break His quickness more than makes up for a lack of size.

Behind the bench: At an age when most coaches are just getting started in the NHL, 34-year-old Paul Maurice is among the most-tenured members of the behind-the-bench brigade. Although the franchise has made the playoffs just once during his first five seasons, Maurice has done a decent job with what he's got.

Player on the spot: Ozolinsh got a big contract from Carolina after being acquired for three high draft choices last June. He hasn't generated enough offense to overcome his defensive shortcomings.

Why they may win it all: If Irbe doesn't drop from exhaustion, he's capable of beating anyone.

NEW YORK RANGERS

On the ice: 7he Rangers were fine until mid-December, when their offense was no longer able to carry a shaky defense. The biggest blow of the season came in early March when Thee Fleury, who had re-emerged as a premier scorer, checked into a rehab center for substance abuse, ending his season. The Rangers still have some threats: The Czechmates (Petr Nedved, Jan Hlavac, and Radek Dvorak) are among the NHL's fastest lines, and no one makes the transition from defense to offense better than Brian Leetch. But Mark Messier looked every one of his 40 years during an 18-game goal drought, the defense after Leetch isn't physical or motile, and there are too many big salaries not pulling their weight.

In the net: Mike Richter was starting to return to form following left knee surgery when he blew out his right knee in mid-February. With the tandem of veteran Kirk McLean and rookie Vitali Yeremeyev between the pipes, the Rangers promptly lost six of seven games. New York finally turned to Anaheim castoff Guy Hebert, but the 34-year-old netminder, who backed Richter up on the 1998 U.S. Olympic team, was only 12-23-4 with two shutouts this season in 41 games for the Ducks

Behind the bench: Ron Low was at his wits end by early February, trying to figure out how a team with a payroll of nearly $60 million could play such lackadaisical hockey.

Player on the spot Messier was brought back to at least get the team into the playoffs. But he's no longer a messiah. On too many nights, he's a perimeter player on a team that needs him to be the Messier of old, not an old Messier.

Why they may win it all: Even with Fleury finished for the year, there's enough talent and experience on this roster to make any contender uneasy. If the Rangers make the playoffs--a big "if" considering the losses of Fleury and Richter--they could surprise someone.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Century Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group