How They Match Up
FORWARDS: The Devils have more depth up front, with C Patrick Elias (21 goals, 69 points), RW Jamie Langenbrunner (23 goals, 60 points), C Scott Gomez (60 points), C Zach Parise (31 goals, 62 points) and C Brian Gionta (25 goals, 45 points) leading the way. But Elias, Gionta and veteran C John Madden all battled injuries down the stretch, leaving Parise and Gomez as the only sure things right now. The Lightning are led by two of the three best players in the league, C Vinny Lecavalier (league-best 52 goals) and RW Marty St. Louis (career-best 102 points), and 2004 Conn Smythe winner Brad Richards is primed for big things in the postseason. EDGE: Lightning
DEFENSEMEN: On talent alone, the Lightning might have the edge against New Jersey's blue liners. But the Devils' group has proven this season that it can create neutral-zone havoc, which is New Jersey's bread and butter. All-Star Brian Rafalski had 47 assists and, along with Paul Martin, averaged more than 25 minutes of ice time. Lightning D Dan Boyle is a Norris Trophy candidate who is better known for his offense (20 goals, 63 points), but his ability to disrupt other teams' attacks below the circles also is a factor. Rookie Shane O'Brien has added an edge and puck-handling ability since the trade from Anaheim. EDGE: Devils
GOALTENDING: Martin Brodeur owns three Stanley Cup championship rings and is the odds-on favorite for the Vezina Trophy, as well as being a strong candidate for the Hart Trophy. He broke Bernie Parent's record for victories in a season with 48 and was third in goals-against average (2.18) and save percentage (.922). Tampa Bay's Johan Holmqvist went 27-15-3, but his .893 save percentage is the lowest among all 16 playoff starters. He was, however, 2-1 this year against Brodeur and the Devils. EDGE: Devils
SPECIAL TEAMS: These were the two least-penalized teams in the league, with New Jersey going short-handed 271 times and the Lightning 305 times. The Lightning were 28th in the league in penalty kill, but Lecavalier and St. Louis helped offset that by scoring five short-handed goals apiece. St. Louis, in fact, led the league with 11 short-handed points. New Jersey's fourth-ranked penalty kill (85.2 percent) would seem to offset Tampa Bay's ninth-ranked power play (18.4 percent). EDGE: Even
COACHING: As a coach, Lou Lamoriello makes a pretty good GM. Actually, to be fair, Lamoriello compiled a good record (32-14-4) last season after Larry Robinson resigned before Christmas. Apparently, it was so much fun, Lamoriello fired Claude Julien with three games to go and returned to the bench. Hard to gauge the effect yet on the Devils, who went 2-0-1 in those final three games. Coach John Tortorella and his staff have been through the playoff wars; all the way through in 2004. EDGE: Lightning
INTANGIBLES: The Lightning are not intimidated by Brodeur. A 3-1 record this year against New Jersey includes two victories in East Rutherford. But Tampa Bay has never won a playoff series it began on the road (0-3). The Devils retain 11 players from their 2003 Stanley Cup champion, and the most important, Brodeur, is 89-64 lifetime in the playoffs. Holmqvist is 0-0 in the playoffs. A big factor will be how the Devils respond to Lamoriello's sudden and unexpected return as coach. EDGE: Even
OVERVIEW: It's going to be tight because of New Jersey's defensive style and the importance Tampa Bay will place on being patient against the neutral-zone trap. The Lightning lost in five games when these two teams met in the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2003. Although Tampa Bay lost twice in OT in that series (including a three-OT thriller in Game 5), the tone was set in Game 1, a 3-0 shutout by Brodeur. It's vital the Lightning win at least one of the first two games in New Jersey, and a winning effort in Game 1 would be preferable; it would create the seed of doubt in a Devils team that sailed into the playoffs with 107 points and the Atlantic Division title.
FORWARDS: The Devils have more depth up front, with C Patrick Elias (21 goals, 69 points), RW Jamie Langenbrunner (23 goals, 60 points), C Scott Gomez (60 points), C Zach Parise (31 goals, 62 points) and C Brian Gionta (25 goals, 45 points) leading the way. But Elias, Gionta and veteran C John Madden all battled injuries down the stretch, leaving Parise and Gomez as the only sure things right now. The Lightning are led by two of the three best players in the league, C Vinny Lecavalier (league-best 52 goals) and RW Marty St. Louis (career-best 102 points), and 2004 Conn Smythe winner Brad Richards is primed for big things in the postseason. EDGE: Lightning
DEFENSEMEN: On talent alone, the Lightning might have the edge against New Jersey's blue liners. But the Devils' group has proven this season that it can create neutral-zone havoc, which is New Jersey's bread and butter. All-Star Brian Rafalski had 47 assists and, along with Paul Martin, averaged more than 25 minutes of ice time. Lightning D Dan Boyle is a Norris Trophy candidate who is better known for his offense (20 goals, 63 points), but his ability to disrupt other teams' attacks below the circles also is a factor. Rookie Shane O'Brien has added an edge and puck-handling ability since the trade from Anaheim. EDGE: Devils
GOALTENDING: Martin Brodeur owns three Stanley Cup championship rings and is the odds-on favorite for the Vezina Trophy, as well as being a strong candidate for the Hart Trophy. He broke Bernie Parent's record for victories in a season with 48 and was third in goals-against average (2.18) and save percentage (.922). Tampa Bay's Johan Holmqvist went 27-15-3, but his .893 save percentage is the lowest among all 16 playoff starters. He was, however, 2-1 this year against Brodeur and the Devils. EDGE: Devils
SPECIAL TEAMS: These were the two least-penalized teams in the league, with New Jersey going short-handed 271 times and the Lightning 305 times. The Lightning were 28th in the league in penalty kill, but Lecavalier and St. Louis helped offset that by scoring five short-handed goals apiece. St. Louis, in fact, led the league with 11 short-handed points. New Jersey's fourth-ranked penalty kill (85.2 percent) would seem to offset Tampa Bay's ninth-ranked power play (18.4 percent). EDGE: Even
COACHING: As a coach, Lou Lamoriello makes a pretty good GM. Actually, to be fair, Lamoriello compiled a good record (32-14-4) last season after Larry Robinson resigned before Christmas. Apparently, it was so much fun, Lamoriello fired Claude Julien with three games to go and returned to the bench. Hard to gauge the effect yet on the Devils, who went 2-0-1 in those final three games. Coach John Tortorella and his staff have been through the playoff wars; all the way through in 2004. EDGE: Lightning
INTANGIBLES: The Lightning are not intimidated by Brodeur. A 3-1 record this year against New Jersey includes two victories in East Rutherford. But Tampa Bay has never won a playoff series it began on the road (0-3). The Devils retain 11 players from their 2003 Stanley Cup champion, and the most important, Brodeur, is 89-64 lifetime in the playoffs. Holmqvist is 0-0 in the playoffs. A big factor will be how the Devils respond to Lamoriello's sudden and unexpected return as coach. EDGE: Even
OVERVIEW: It's going to be tight because of New Jersey's defensive style and the importance Tampa Bay will place on being patient against the neutral-zone trap. The Lightning lost in five games when these two teams met in the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2003. Although Tampa Bay lost twice in OT in that series (including a three-OT thriller in Game 5), the tone was set in Game 1, a 3-0 shutout by Brodeur. It's vital the Lightning win at least one of the first two games in New Jersey, and a winning effort in Game 1 would be preferable; it would create the seed of doubt in a Devils team that sailed into the playoffs with 107 points and the Atlantic Division title.
