Ray Stubblebine/Reuters

NEWARK — Ilya Kovalchuk worked out Friday instead of practicing with the Devils. With Game 5 of their Stanley Cup playoff series against Florida set for Saturday, Kovalchuk seemed to appreciate a day off his skates, even if he did not really need one.

Although he is exceedingly talented and extremely well-paid, Kovalchuk, a 29-year-old forward, does not have much playoff experience. The Devils’ 4-0 victory over the Panthers on Thursday was his 13th playoff game in 10 seasons. His third-period goal was only his fifth in the playoffs.

When he beat goaltender Scott Clemmensen on the power play for the final goal, Kovalchuk, who has two goals in the series, peered into the rafters, as if he was relieved. He said Friday it was not really a big deal; any playoff goal is a good one.

Later, in an interview in the dressing room, however, Kovalchuk said: “It’s not the best series probably for me, but there’s still a couple of games left, and everything is in my hands. It’s in our hands.”

The series is tied, 2-2, and the Devils generally agree that they can eliminate Florida if they keep playing the way they did Thursday, when they scored two power-play goals, killed all six of their penalties and got a stellar game from Martin Brodeur.

Brodeur, however, has played in 185 playoff games, winning three Stanley Cups. Fourteen other Devils who played Thursday have more experience than Kovalchuk does in the playoffs, when top players attract even more notice than usual.

“Special attention is put onto you, and you’re checked a lot more and guys will make your life a lot more difficult than in the regular season because you play and you match up,” Brodeur said. “When you play a team day after day, you start knowing tendencies in players.”

Brodeur said of Kovalchuk, “He can’t get through a lot of shots where he usually he’s able to get them through, so for him to get in that position with people in front of him to be able to get it through and score a goal, I’m sure it’s a big relief for him.”

Florida employed an interesting tactic when the Devils had power plays, using the veteran forward Tomas Kopecky to hound Kovalchuk when he took his standard position at the top of the left face-off circle. Kovalchuk played 5 minutes 17 seconds on the power play and took only one shot.

That shot went in, but it was Kovalchuk’s first power-play goal of a series in which special teams have been a big factor. Kovalchuk said Friday that he was fine with Florida’s strategy because it freed other Devils for scoring chances.

But Zach Parise, a linemate and the team’s captain, said of Kovalchuk’s goal: “I’m sure it was important for him mentally. He puts a lot of pressure on himself to produce.”

Peter DeBoer, the Devils’ first-year coach, said of the pressure on top players in general, “As much as you try to relieve that, I think it’s a load off their minds when they get them to go in.”

The Devils have a deep and resourceful lineup, and everyone is chipping in. “We stuck to the systems, and we stuck to the plan,” said the third-line forward David Clarkson, who had an assist on Travis Zajac’s goal, the Devils’ third of the night.

But the Devils are not paying Kovalchuk $100 million just to chip in. He has two goals on 10 shots on goal in more 100 minutes of action through four games. Ten other shots were blocked, and eight missed the net. He says he knows he can do better.

Reminded that the series is tied, Kovalchuk said, “It’s better than 3-1.”