Devils Starting To Get Breaks, Lead 2-1 After Two Periods In Game 5

The Los Angeles Kings are losing after 40 minutes in their second consecutive chance to clinch their first Stanley Cup.

The Devils took the lead on a Bryce Salvador goal to make it 2-1 through two periods at the Prudential Center in Newark. This was after L.A. had tied the game on a terrific wrister from the slot by Justin Williams. All in all, New Jersey had a better period than the first, outshooting the Kings 12-9 in the middle frame. The teams are tied in shots at 16 overall.

The Devils still have to kill off 38 seconds of Salvador’s high-sticking minor as we enter the third. Salvador caught Simon Gagne up high on a follow through. The Devils did a solid job of killing the first 1:22 of disadvantaged time, blocking a ton of shots and making the middle of the ice unavailable.

Los Angeles hasn’t been short of chances, but Marty Brodeur is having yet another great game in a playoffs that have been full of them. The 40-year old netminder had no chance on the Williams goal, but made several other great saves in the period to keep the Kings at one goal.

So to the third period we go. Los Angeles needs a comeback, though far from an impossible one, to win their first Stanley Cup since coming into existence in 1967. New Jersey’s 20 minutes away from making this series very interesting, and sending it back to Los Angeles for a Game 6 on Monday night.