Sorry for the late posts. This was a busy weekend and didn’t have time till today to write.

Well with the Game 5 win in New Jersey Saturday the devils improved their record in games 4 through 7 to 10-1 in these playoffs. The Devils are the third team in NHL history since 1945 Detroit Red Wings to rally back from a 0-3 deficit in a Stanley Cup Final to force a game 6. However, the devils will hope to be the first team since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs to win the cup after being down 0-3. Let’s see what the Devils did right in game 5 and what both teams need to do to win game 6.

Game 5 was Saturday night and goals from Bryce Salvador and Zach Parise gave the New Jersey Devils a 2-1 win. The biggest thing was the Devils scored first! The team that has scored first has one each game in these finals. Second New Jersey finally got a powerplay goal, something they have been lacking throughout all these playoffs. The penalty call on Willie Mitchell of the L.A Kings was a bad call, but in every game there are questionable calls what’s important is being able to capitalize on those opportunities when they are given to you. Third The Devil’s increased their physical play on the ice. They out hit the Kings by a margin of 11 hits and they were able to get their bodies in the way of the LA shooters and passers. The Devils blocked a total of 20 shots! Which is almost equal to the 26 shots the Kings got on net. Which bring us to the last reason the Devils won the game. Martin Brodeur kept his team alive for most of the night. He stopped a number of breakaway chances and big moment scoring chances by the Kings especially in the third period when the Devils only managed 3 shots on net and the Kings increasing pressure as he managed to make 25 out of 26 saves. All these factors plus a lucky bounce for Salvador’s game winning goal contributed to a Game 5 Devils win.

Game 6 is tonight in LA and the Kings are looking to finally capture the cup while the Devils will be hoping for one more game in NJ.

Key factors for both teams will be :

New Jersey:

1) Martin Brodeur need to continue being spectacular. He has allowed 1 goal in each of the two devils wins, and has been the lifeline of the devils in clutch moments when they have been pushed against the wall by the Kings.

2) The devils need to carry over their powerplay success from last game into this game. The Devils were 0-2, 0-4, 0-6, and 0-3 in their first 4 games before being 1-2 in game 5. The Devils need to score first to have a stronger chance to win, and they can’t afford to not capitalize on these chances they are being given.

3) Maintain physical pressure in offensive and defensive zones. In the last two games the Devils had won more face-offs, out hit the devils and won the battle for the pucks, and have muscle guys off the puck in their defensive zones and have blocked more than half the total number of shots the Kings take. If they keep playing this physical style they can negate the Kings offense and get ready for Game 7 in NJ.

LA

1) Just as the Devils main factor is Brodeur, the King’s need JonathanQuick to continue his game play. He has a 1.43 GAA and a .946% save percentage that lead the league in both categories and beat Broduer’s 2.00 GA and .922% save percentage. Those are staggering playoff numbers and the reason the Kings have gotten this far. If they want to win the Cup Quick will have to shine once again tonight.

2) LA’s captain Dustin Brown needs to find his scoring touch. He has 17 points in the playoffs, but record only 1 assist in this series. If the captain isn’t going that will affect the team.

3) Capitalize on breakaway and odd-man rushes. The Kings did this well in Games 1 and 2 in OT, but since then haven’t had much luck. They were able to split the Devil’s defense a couple of times in game 5 to get these chances only to be rejected by Brodeur. The Kings have the scoring ability but just like the Devils need to be able to finish on their powerplays to increase their chances of winning, the kings need to score on their breakaways and rushes to increase their chances of hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Prediction:

It will be another tightly fought contest and both goalies will shine. However, in the end the Devils will get the bounce they need to put it away. 1-0 Devils final to force a game 7 Wednesday night in NJ.