After falling behind three games to none, the Devils did their best to make the Stanley Cup finals a competitive series. They won two straight to force two extra cross-country trips and a Game 6 in Los Angeles. But at no point during Monday's 6-1 loss to the Kings did the Devils make people think there would be a decisive seventh game. So ended a surprising and successful season for the Devils, who came out of the Eastern Conference as a No. 6 seed. Only the steamrolling Kings, who went 16-4 in the playoffs, could stop them.
The wheels fell off quickly Monday night. Steve Bernier took a five-minute major boarding penalty for a hit on Rob Scuderi and earned a game misconduct. On the resulting power play, the Kings scored three times, Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis all beat Martin Brodeur, who made 19 saves and allowed five goals. (The fifth of six was an empty-netter.) Just in case there was any doubt about the three-goal lead, Carter scored again 90 seconds into the second period to put his team up four.
The Devils appeared less than thrilled that Jarret Stoll wasn't called for a hit from behind on Stephen Gionta just seconds before Bernier leveled Scuderi. Without the call, the Devils fell apart. The minutes of penalties left them with only five shots halfway through the second period. Rookie Adam Henrique scored their only goal before the second intermission, but they never made a serious charge.
Now the questions of the offseason can begin. Will Brodeur be back? The goalie, who just turned 40, may have one more season in him. Captain Zach Parise will be a free agent. The team has enjoyed almost uninterrupted success for 20 years. They may not have played a suspense-filled finale, but the Devils will have a compelling offseason.
