They had a split in their hands but lost it in stunning fashion. The Devils will have to forget how close they were to evening this best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinal series when it resumes in East Rutherford Wednesday.

The Hurricanes cameback to shock the Devils 3-2 in overtime to take Game Two at RBC Center Monday night. It was their fifth straight home postseason win against the Devils dating back to 2002. By holding serve, they put the Devils in a precarious position of having to comeback from 0-2 down. In NHL playoff history, teams that dropped the first two games have only comeback to win 13.4 percent (36 of 268) of the time.

In their postseason history, the Devils have comeback to win a series once (1-3) when falling into this predicament- beating Boston in the same round 12 years ago by winning the next four. They’ve lost their last two including once to Carolina four years earlier. They’ll try to turn the tables on the Canes starting in Game Three.

“These things happen, and right now, you can’t dwell on it,” GM and Coach Lou Lamoriello expressed to the AP. “This is the playoffs, and you have to win four games.”

It didn’t start badly. Unlike Game One where nothing went right, the Devils came out sharper and outshot the Canes 14-8 in the first period. Early on, they went ahead thanks to some nifty passwork. Moving the puck well, Brian Rafalski and Patrik Elias teamed up to setup a wide open Jamie Langenbrunner in front for his third goal of the postseason to give them the lead 6:20 in.

In control, they nearly had a two-goal lead when Zach Parise rebounded a Ken Klee shot past Cam Ward but it was waived off due to goalie interference on Scott Gomez.

The tide would turn on another unfortunate break for the Devils in the second. Patrik Elias nearly made it 2-0 but his one-timer from the point sailed harmlessly off the post.

Another momentum swing came when Ward denied Brian Gionta on the doorstep with 5:34 left. Only down one, the Canes began to carry play and soon would draw a power play of their own to knot the score.

With Richard Matvichuk off for holding, Carolina’s special teams came through when Mark Recchi finished off a passing play for his second at 18:18. Off a three-on-two rush, Doug Weight fed a cutting Ray Whitney, who quickly slipped a pass to Recchi in front for a deflection past a sprawling Martin Brodeur.

After outshooting the Devils 12-4 in the second, the Canes continued to press for the go-ahead goal in a third period onslaught. Peppering Brodeur from every conceivable angle, they couldn’t beat the Devils’ netminder who was pulled in Game One after allowing six. Making his playoff record 139th consecutive start, Brodeur was brilliant stopping the first 14 shots, giving his team a chance to steal the game. His biggest saves came on Justin Williams and Rod Brind’Amour with under 10 minutes to play. After stopping Williams, he dove across to thwart Brind’Amour on the rebound.

Despite being outplayed, the Devils looked to have the game won in the final minute. When Scott Gomez redirected a Zach Parise shot to put the Devils up 3-2 with 21 seconds left, it seemed over.

Not so fast. Instead, the Hurricanes rallied to tie the game in the final frantic seconds. Off a clean John Madden win, the puck went into the Devils’ end where Brad Lukowich was forced into a turnover by Justin Williams. With Ward on the bench for an extra attacker, Williams twice outworked Devils for the puck along the boards to setup Eric Staal for the tying goal with just three seconds to go. After a Cory Stillman one-timer failed, Williams backhanded a pass to Staal in front, who one-timed his fourth thru Brodeur’s waffle.

“That’s the way we’ve been all year, we’re a no-quit team,” Staal said. “It was a good job by the guys continuing to battle, even though it was kind of an unlucky goal against us there. We kept with it.”

“It’s over and we’ve got to move on,” Gomez pointed out. “You’ve got to let go of it right away. It’s kind of like a freak accident. But give them credit. They stayed in there the whole time.”

It didn’t take long for the Canes to end it. Carolina defenseman Niclas Wallin won it just 3:09 into sudden death. During a four-on-four, he took advantage of a fortunate break.

Briefly after the Devils misconnected on a three-on-one, defenseman Ken Klee turned over the puck in the neutral zone. Brind’Amour sprung Wallin who broke in on Brodeur. As he went to deke, the puck deflected off a sliding Paul Martin back to Wallin and trickled off his skate past Brodeur. After a video review upstairs, the goal counted to dash the Devils’ hopes.

“I don’t know,” Wallin said of the lucky bounce. “But I’ll take it.”

In his five-year NHL career, Wallin has scored 12 goals during the regular season. Astonishingly, he now has three OT winners in the playoffs.

“Everybody can get the puck to the net, that’s what the playoffs are about,” he added. “Call me the secret weapon.”

“We’ve got to go back and try to win our games at home,” Brodeur said after making 35 saves. “We played pretty well but just didn’t the bounces there at the end. That’s how it goes.”

Notes: Devils’ defenseman Colin White sat out his fifth game in a row with a groin injury. His status remains uncertain for Game Three. … By making 21 saves en route to the victory, Carolina rookie Cam Ward became only the third NHL goalie to win his first six postseason starts, tying Anaheim’s Jean-Sebastien Giguere (2003) and Boston’s Tiny Thompson (1929-30). … Carolina defenseman Aaron Ward missed a portion of the second period due to taking a puck off the forehead, drawing blood. … Brodeur is now 8-19 for his playoff career in OT. … Langenbrunner finished with a goal and assist.

It had to end eventually. The Devils’ run of 15 straight ended abruptly when they were stormed by the Hurricanes 6-0 in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at a capacity RBC Center Saturday. It was their first loss since a 4-3 defeat to Toronto on March 26.

Returning from a week layoff, the Devils showed rust against their quicker opponents. A step behind from the outset, they couldn’t muster anything. The Canes dominated play outshooting the Devils 38-21 and outplaying them by a wide margin.

“We’re not looking for any excuses whatsoever,” Devils GM and Coach Lou Lamoriello told the AP. “We didn’t do some of the little things that we’ve been doing that gave us the success that we’ve had.”

Not only were they not sharp but luck wasn’t on their side on Carolina’s first two goals. After defenseman Ken Klee took an unnecessary Delay of Game penalty, Ray Whitney made him pay by banking in a shot off defenseman Brad Lukowich’s stick past Martin Brodeur to give Carolina the lead at 11:37. In their series victory over the Rangers, they only trailed for 4:39. Being behind early didn’t bode well.

Dictating play, the Canes continued to attack in the second period. After Whitney hit a post, Eric Staal stole a puck in the neutral zone and fed Whitney. This time, he centered the puck for Staal off Brodeur’s pokecheck and in for his second of the day to increase the lead to two at 2:58. It was the start of a big period for Staal, who would add a goal and assist for three points on the day.

“We had our legs today, guys were skating well,” Staal said. “That’s our game. If we’re moving our feet, we’re going to create opportunities and power plays.”

Despite trailing by two, the Devils had their chances to get back into the game. But they couldn’t capitalize on three consecutive power plays including a nine second five-on-three.

Frustrated by the Canes aggressive penalty killing, they lost their discipline which led to directly to the game turning into a rout. With Sergei Brylin and Jamie Langenbrunner in the box 1:12 apart, it didn’t take long for Carolina to take advantage. Directly off a faceoff win by Rod Brind’Amour, Staal moved in and beat Brodeur with a quick wrist shot thru the legs to give the Canes a three-goal lead at 17:32.

With Langenbrunner still serving his minor, Cory Stillman made it 4-0 only 34 seconds later when he rebounded home a Justin Williams shot. Amazingly, the Devils had given up as many goals in two periods as they did to the Rangers in a first round sweep.

Once the goal was scored, it turned ugly. After Williams was shoved into Brodeur by Lukowich, Brodeur shoved the Carolina forward, earning a roughing minor. Coming to his goalie’s aid, John Madden got an extra two for roughing, giving the Canes another power play. But it was shortlived when Cory Larose intensified things by running Brodeur, drawing an interference call. Sticking up for his teammate, Langenbrunner evened it up by roughing Larose.

It would get worse for the Devils in the third. After Cam Janssen instigated an entertaining scrap with ex-Devil Mike Commodore, Carolina scored its fourth power play goal when Doug Weight banked the puck in off Brodeur to make it 5-0 at 12:07.

Brodeur’s 34th birthday would come to a merciful end when the Canes notched their fifth PPG of the game just a minute later. With Grant Marshall in the box for boarding, Brind’Amour put home a Bret Hedican rebound to finish Brodeur’s day with 6:53 remaining. He turned aside 29 of 35 shots. In another ironic twist, the Devils scored five PPGs in a 6-1 destruction of the Rangers in Game One of the opening round two weeks ago.

“Losing 6-0 in the first game of the series is not something to look back on,” Brodeur said. “A lot of things went wrong. I don’t think you can point at one thing. Our special teams were not up to par.”

“These guys are so much quicker,” he added. “They have puck pressure everywhere. Their power play, they are definitely doing something we’re going to have to take a look at.”

Backup Scott Clemmensen saw his first postseason action of his career stopping all three shots.

All that was left was whether rookie Cam Ward would get his first ever playoff shutout. When the Canes killed off the Devils’ fifth man-advantage of the game, he had it. Barely tested, Ward stopped all 21 shots for his fifth consecutive win of the postseason.

“We’re not happy about the result,” Patrik Elias said. “This is the playoffs and we have to take it as it is. Our special teams didn’t do a good job and theirs did. That was the main reason why they won.”

Notes: Defenseman Colin White sat out his fourth straight game with a groin injury after practicing with the Devils Friday. … Dating back to their 2002 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series loss against Carolina, the Devils have now lost their last four playoff games at RBC Center. … Devils right wing Brian Gionta had his 19-game point-streak snapped. During it, he had 31 points (14-17-31). It was the first time Gionta didn’t record a point since March 19th against Ottawa. … Devils right wing Viktor Kozlov dressed for the first time this postseason, replacing Jason Wiemer. … Canes were 35-27 on faceoffs including a dominant 22-6 from Brind’Amour. … Devils look to rebound and gain a split Monday night.

Devils’ goalie Martin Brodeur has accomplished plenty throughout his 12-year NHL career. The three-time Stanley Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist was nominated for the Vezina Tuesday. Though he’s won it the past two seasons, that’s not what’s important.

“The way I approach the game, it’s all about winning,” Brodeur said at a league conference call in preparation for the Carolina Hurricanes with the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinal set to begin Saturday afternoon.

“I don’t have a problem with where I stand in hockey, that’s for sure,” he added. “I think I’ve been really fortunate to play with a great team. I get a lot of recognition throughout my career.”

Earlier this season, the Devils struggled without Patrik Elias and weren’t a playoff lock. Things were so bad that Larry Robinson stepped aside due to stress after a 4-1 loss on December 17. Ironically it came against the Devils’ next opponent, the Hurricanes.

“Definitely it was tough times,” said Brodeur. “Seeing a guy of the stature of Larry Robinson, of what he accomplished as a coach in New Jersey and in L.A. and all that, tough to go through that. … You feel really responsible, especially when you’re one of the oldest players and some of the leaders on our hockey club. We feel like we let the guy down. It was a big wake-up call to see him go like that.”

In a tough spot, GM Lou Lamoriello put his reputation on the line and took over behind the bench. Soon after, things began to turn around.

“I think he [Lamoriello] played a major role,” Brodeur pointed out. “He definitely put this team together. He believed in it. Definitely had to make a few tweaks during the middle of the season with sending guys in the minors and a couple guys retired, or I don’t know what happened there. There was a lot of stuff going on.”

“I think when he put the team that he wanted on the ice, it kind of happened. And at the same time, Patrik came back healthy.”

With Elias finally returning from hepatitis in January, the Devils started playing the kind of hockey they were capable of.

“I think when we started getting results, we went on a nine-game winning streak at one point when Lou took over early in January. I think that made us believe that now we’re able to do that,” Brodeur noted.

Despite not having his best season, Brodeur still finished strong, matching his season best mark in wins with 43 and helping spark the club to an NHL record 11-game win streak to close the regular season- propelling them to a sixth Atlantic Division title.

That was good enough to be nominated for the Vezina along with Calgary’s Miikka Kiprusoff and Rangers’ rookie Henrik Lundqvist.

“No, pleasantly surprised,” he acknowledged about the recognition. “I think a lot of goalies had great seasons and definitely with the rocky first half of the season for myself and for the team, I didn’t expect to get in on the voting, especially in the top three. … We’ve definitely peaked at the right time and late in the season to get ourselves in a great position. I guess that was enough for people to consider me as the top three.”

Coming off a first round sweep of the Rangers, the Devils have won a remarkable 15 straight spanning the end of the regular season and beginning of the postseason. Showing no signs of slowing down, they’ll look to take the next step to a fourth Cup in 12 years.

“I think we have confidence in what we’re able to accomplish out there,” mentioned Brodeur. “That’s similar to the clockwork games that we played over and over throughout my career that we knew we were going to go in and we knew that we were going to play well defensively. We were just hoping for breaks, and most of the time, it happened. You could see a lot of the same happening to us right now.”

Brodeur knows what the blueprint for success has been for his team’s turnaround.

“We don’t shoot ourselves in the foot. We don’t kill tons of penalties and we’re disciplined.”

“It’s definitely a lot of similarities of some of the good teams that I played. It’s just that now we know exactly what to do.”

After dismantling the Rangers in four straight to raise their win streak to 15, the Devils will look to take the next step against the Hurricanes. While the Devils made quick work of their first round opponent, the Canes cameback from two games down to take the next four against Montreal to advance.

It sets up an intriguing match-up which could have fans on the edge of their seats. Both teams are capable of scoring on the rush and in transition. Each works diligently in the corners and tries to outwork opponents. Both enter with hot goalies. So who will come out on top in the third playoff series between these budding rivals? A berth in the Eastern Conference Final is on the line.

Series History: Devils are 1-1 against the Hurricanes in best-of-seven series.

Year Round Result
2001 Conf. Qtrs def. Canes in 6
2002 Conf. Qtrs lost to Canes in 6
2006 Conf. Semis ???

Season Series: Each team won twice but Carolina took the season series by virtue of one more point earned in an overtime loss. The Canes outscored the Devils 13-9 overall. Brian Gionta paced the Devils with two goals and three assists for five points. For Carolina, ex-Pen Mark Recchi registered seven points in five games against the Devils.

SERIES MATCH-UPS

Forwards: The Devils enter play having outscored the Rangers 17-4 on the strength of 11 points from Patrik Elias. Linemate Jamie Langenbrunner chipped in with eight points. Dynamic top line American combo Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta played well in the first round as did checking center John Madden and overlooked linemate Jay Pandolfo. This gives the Devils three lines which can contribute. Carolina counters with leading scorer Eric Staal. In his first ever playoff series, he had eight points. Veteran pivot Rod Brind’Amour is coming off an effective first round while Cory Stillman and Matt Cullen were key contributors. Justin Williams plus vets Recchi and Doug Weight supply depth.

Edge: Even

Defense: Brian Rafalski was outstanding in the first round playing steady D and supplying offense (1-3-4). He’ll need to duplicate that effort against Carolina’s aggressive forwards. Paul Martin also was solid and chipped in with three assists and a plus-six rating. With physical presence Colin White missing the last three games due to a balky groin, vets Brad Lukowich, Richard Matvichuk and Ken Klee stepped up. David Hale played well in White’s place and could be asked to again due to White’s uncertain status. Carolina’s blueline is led by vet Bret Hedican. He was a factor in their comeback against Montreal, contributing three assists. Frantisek Kaberle can also jump into the play if needed. Aaron Ward and Mike Commodore provide beef. Glen Wesley and Niclas Wallin aren’t flashy but get the job done. If the Canes’ power play needs a boost, ex-Devil Oleg Tverdovsky could see some action.

Edge: Devils

Goalies: Martin Brodeur was splendid in exorcising the demons against the Rangers. He only allowed four goals on 114 shots and recorded his 21st career postseason shutout. He also is tied with Ed Belfour and Billy Smith for third all-time in wins (88). His next start will be his 138th consecutive, surpassing Patrick Roy’s playoff record of 137. A three-time Cup winner, Brodeur should give the Devils an edge. The Hurricanes will counter with 22-year-old rookie Cam Ward. In replacing an ineffective Martin Gerber, the former 2002 first round pick was brilliant in sparking his club to four straight wins. In four starts, he turned aside 105 of 110 shots. If Ward stays hot, the experience factor won’t mean much. If he comes back to earth, look for Gerber to replace him.

Edge: Devils

Special Teams: The Devils dominated the Rangers in the first round, outscoring them 8-2 on the power play and notching three shorthanded goals. The Hurricanes scored six times on the man-advantage but also gave up six PP goals to Montreal. They didn’t score shorthanded but are capable.

Edge: Devils

Coaching: Since taking over for Larry Robinson last December, GM Lou Lamoriello has done an outstanding job. Along with assistants Jacques Laperriere and John MacLean, they have devised excellent gameplans which have had the team well prepared. In typical fashion, Lamoriello refuses to take any credit, opting to put the focus on the players. Carolina head coach Peter Laviolette is responsible for a Whaler/Canes franchise record in wins (52) and points (112). In his first full season, the ex-Islanders coach guided his team to a 36-point improvement. Laviolette is a solid motivator who gets the most out of his players.

Edge: Even

Intangibles: Both teams have enough experienced players who know what it takes to advance. The Devils have more players who have won Cups. However, the Canes should get a lift from their home crowd at RBC Center. Despite being the higher seed, they might be viewed as underdogs. Four years ago, they were in a similar role against the Devils and used it to their advantage.

Edge: Hurricanes

Keys to a Devils victory:

-Shutdown Staal
-Get to Cam Ward early
-Attack questionable Carolina D
-Win the battle of special teams

What can’t happen:

-Ward outplays Brodeur
-Devils defense succumbs to Canes’ high powered attack
-Devils offense trades chances with Canes leading to problems
-Weight and Recchi tilt the offensive balance

Prediction: This should be a very competitive series. Both teams are playing well coming in. But ultimately, Brodeur should be the difference.

Devils in six