A little goal-scoring and a little goal-scorer worked wonders. Now, the Devils’ magic number is five points to clinch their seventh Atlantic Division title.
“It’s a good spot to be in,” said Jay Pandolfo, who scored twice as the Devils regained the division lead with a 3-1 victory over the Bruins at the Meadowlands yesterday. “It makes it fun to be in some sort of race at this time of year. We’ll just worry about our next game and let everything take care of itself.”
Brian Gionta, the Devils’ diminuitive sniper, returned to New Jersey’s lineup yesterday and promptly potted the game-winner, his first goal since Jan. 30.
“When you miss [19] games, you don’t [remember] your last time on ice. It was a long time between games,” Gionta said.
The Devils need five points gained by themselves or lost by the Penguins to be certain of that Atlantic title and home-ice in the first two rounds of the playoffs. They are one point and two tie-breaker victories ahead of the Penguins, who also have three games remaining.
The Devils have the more-favorable schedule, facing only one more team currently holding a playoff berth, while Pittsburgh plays only playoff teams. The Devils complete the season playing host to Ottawa tomorrow; visiting the Flyers Thursday; and, in their last regular-season game at the Meadowlands, facing the Islanders on Sunday. The Penguins play host to the conference-leading Sabres tomorrow, visit Ottawa Thursday and finish at home Saturday against the Rangers.
New Jersey won its fourth in five, but the euphoria is tempered by the fact that each victory came over a team currently out of a playoff berth.
Gionta had missed 11 straight and 19-of-21 with a groin pull initially sustained Feb. 14. His usual centerman, Scott Gomez, went on the shelf with a leg injury suffered in Friday’s victory over the Flyers. Gionta, who set the team record with 48 goals last season, led the team with 24 when he suffered the initial injury.
Pandolfo put the Devils on top 2:09 into play with the first of his pair, set up driving to the net by Erik Rasmussen, cutting in from the right side.
Boston tied the game on Petr Kalus’ power-play goal at 8:11 of the second. Kalus backed away from the crease into the slot as Petr Tenkrat fed him a backhand pass from the left side of the net, and Kalus fired his third of the season past Martin Brodeur’s glove.
Gionta reestablished the Devils’ lead at 11:29 of the second with his 25th. Gionta deflected Zach Parise’s right-circle shot off the right post, then reached around Thomas to knock the rebound across the line, barely ahead of Patrik Elias.
Pandolfo added insurance with his second of the game with 5:42 remaining. He has 13, one short of his 1998-99 career best.
Devils 3 Bruins 1
