It has less to do with a huge contract than with enormous expectations.



The Devils cannot expect Ilya Kovalchuk to win them a Stanley Cup all by himself, but they can expect the Russian winger to be a difference-maker at crucial points in the playoffs.



A loss to the Florida Panthers Thursday night at the Prudential Center in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals would put the Devils on the brink of elimination yet again. They would be down, 3-1, with the series shifting to Florida.



So, if not now, when?



"In different ways you challenge players and you put that responsibility on them," coach Pete DeBoer said yesterday. "We have different ways of getting that message to guys. As a group of 20, plus coaches, we have to all be better. We have to ramp our level up. We're in a fight here, as we expected we would be."



In the first three games of the series, Kovalchuk has one goal and one assist. There are five other players on the team with more than his six total shots on goal, so it is natural that all eyes turn to No. 17.



"Sure. I think that's fair. Really fair," Kovalchuk said. "You have to take charge. It's nothing new to me. I want to be in that situation. I was in those situations all year. People expect a lot from me and I like it.



"I'm one of the leaders on this team so we have to put a lot of responsibility on ourselves when things aren't going the way we want it to."



How would he rate his series so far?



"We're down, 2-1, so I don't think anybody can be satisfied," he said.



Kovalchuk's teammates know he is capable of dominating a game. But his popularity in the dressing room is evident when they come to his defense.



"It's never been one guy that's won a team a Stanley Cup," center Travis Zajac said. "It's a team. We all support each other and he's one of the biggest team guys. He'll do anything to help this team have success. I don't think it's fair to put it all on him. The teams that win are always the best teams, not the best individuals."



Captain Zach Parise had the same view.



"It's a big time for everyone. I don't think it's fair to put it on any one player," Parise said. "Everyone needs to be better. It's always been a team sport. When things don't go well it's easy to say, 'This guy needs to be better.' There are five other guys on the ice with (Kovalchuk). We all need to be better."



At times Tuesday night, Kovalchuk looked frustrated. He denied that either the team's confidence or his own is shaken.



"No. Why? We're a good team. We have to find a way to bounce back. One game is not going to kill our confidence," Kovalchuk said. "No one said it would be easy.



"Frustrated? Yes. It's not easy when you're leading, 3-0, and then every opportunity they get it's in the net. Those games can (be tough). You just have to react positively."

Zajac said Kovalchuk wasn't the only frustrated Devils player.

"I think the whole team was frustrated with the way the game ended. I think Kovy is fine," Zajac said. "He's playing well, skating well. He probably would like to score more and contribute more but he's doing a lot of good things away from the puck. The goals will come. He'll get his goals. He's too good of a player to keep off the score sheet."



Panthers coach Kevin Dineen did not commit to starting goalie Scott Clemmensen, who is 4-0 in the regular season with a 2.05 goals-against average against his former club, but the Devils expect to see him. Combined with the playoffs, Clemmensen is 5-0 with a 1.70 GAA against the Devils.



"He's one of those goalies that used to play here. He's got a little extra motivation," Kovalchuk suggested. "We have to find a way to beat him. We have to put guys in front of the net and shoot the puck because we didn't have enough shots last game."



DeBoer spoke about blowing a 3-0 lead.



"Let's be straight here. I'll take a 3-0 lead any day. I don't care how many we blow. You want to give me three goals, I'll take them," DeBoer said. "Got to give Florida credit for coming back, just like we did the other night even though we didn't get all the way (back).



"I think the team that can fix those issues the quickest is probably going to win this series. That's on us to do that."



Parise put it simply: "We need to have our best game."



No one moreso than Kovalchuk.

