NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur feels getting that first goal of the game in a must-win situation might help alleviate some pressure.
Add in the fact the Devils were shut out in Game 5 on Saturday by the Florida Panthers, working for that opening goal could instill some needed confidence.
"Scoring first would help," Brodeur said. "I think just for the psyche of players and especially coming from a game where we didn't score. You just don't want to get their goalie in a rhythm again, so you try to get goals on him as quick as possible.
"But sometimes it might not happen and you just work through that."
The team scoring first in this best-of-seven series has gone on to win four of the five games so far. The only time the team scoring first couldn't hold the lead was Game 3 in Newark, when the Devils opened a 3-0 lead and ultimately lost, 4-3.
"It would be nice [scoring first], but I don't think we'll get off the ice and leave if we don't," Devils captain Zach Parise said. "We'd love to get the crowd into the game early and make it a tough atmosphere for Florida to play in. If the game is zeroes, we're going to keep playing the same way, whether we're up or down two goals because, in this series, you have seen three-goal leads disappear quickly. If it doesn't happen, that's alright."
DeBoer said it certainly wouldn't create a sense of chaos on the bench if the Panthers struck first on Tuesday in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series. The Panthers hold a 3-2 series edge.
"It's not necessarily important that we score first," DeBoer said. "We just have to play a solid game, that's what we have to do. If we're playing well, and they end up with the first goal, I'm not concerned about the outcome."
Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mike_morreale
Conference Quarterfinals: Panthers vs Devils
Brodeur: 'Scoring first would help' Devils in Game 6
Monday, 04.23.2012 / 1:28 PM
By Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer / Panthers vs. Devils series blog
NHL.TV™
NHL GameCenter LIVE™ is now NHL.TV™.
Watch out-of-market games and replays with an all new redesigned media player, mobile and connected device apps.
LEARN MORE
Watch out-of-market games and replays with an all new redesigned media player, mobile and connected device apps.
LEARN MORE
NHL Mobile App
Introducing the new official NHL App, available for iPhone, iPad and Android smartphones and tablets. A host of new features and improved functionality are available across all platforms, including a redesigned league-wide scoreboard, expanded news coverage, searchable video highlights, individual team experiences* and more. The new NHL App on your tablet also introduces new offerings such as 60fps video, Multitasking** and Picture-in-Picture.
*Available only for smartphones
** Available only for suported iPads
*Available only for smartphones
** Available only for suported iPads
-
AFFILIATE SITES
AHL › AIHL › ECHL › ELITE (UK) › SPHL › USHL › Aussie Hockey › NHL Alumni › NHL Officials Association › -
PLAYER SITES
Craig Anderson › David Backes › Nicklas Backstrom › Aleksander Barkov › Brendan Gallagher › Mike Green › Scott Hartnell › Duncan Keith › Anze Kopitar › Torey Krug › Henrik Lundqvist › Evgeni Malkin › Brad Marchand › Carey Price › James Reimer › Alex Steen › Anton Stralman › P.K. Subban › Thomas Vanek › Henrik Zetterberg › -
RETIRED PLAYERS
Dave Bolland › Martin Brodeur › Pavel Bure › Patrik Elias › Mike Fisher › Josh Harding › Matt Kassian › Olie Kolzig › Jamie Langenbrunner › Georges Laraque › Brad Richards › Denis Savard › Marty Turco › James Wisniewski › -
COMMUNITY
Hockey is for Everyone › Hockey Fights Cancer › NHL Green › Future Goals › -
TERMS
Terms of Service › Privacy Policy ›AdChoices › Online Transmission Policy › Copyright Policy ›
-
FUN STUFF
Fantasy Hockey › NHL Shop › NHL Rbk store › NHL Learning Center › Video Rulebook › NHL Awards › -
ABOUT
FAQ › Contact Us › NHL.TV Support › NHL Network › SiriusXM NHL Radio › History › Marketing Partners › Jobs › CBA › Site Map ›
NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup, the Stanley Cup Playoffs logo, the Stanley Cup Final logo, Center Ice name and logo, NHL Conference logos, NHL Winter Classic name, and The Biggest Assist Happens Off The Ice are registered trademarks and Vintage Hockey word mark and logo, The Game Lives Where You Do, NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Heritage Classic name and logo, NHL Stadium Series name and logo, NHL All-Star logo, NHL Face-Off name and logo, NHL. TV, NHL Premium, NHL After Dark, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter LIVE, NHL Network name and logo, NHL Tonight name and logo, On The Fly, NHL Awards name and logo, NHL Draft name and logo, Hockey Fights Cancer, Because It's The Cup, NHL Green name and logo, NHL Vault, Hockey Is For Everyone, NHL Thanksgiving Showdown name and logo, NHL Centennial Classic name and logo, NHL Centennial Season logo, NHL100 Classic name and logo, NHL Global Series name and logo, NHL China Games name and logo, and Don't Miss A Moment are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2018. All Rights Reserved. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. © Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.