Devils won't let Lundqvist's play get them down

Martin Brodeur had just offered yet another rave review of Henrik Lundqvist's play -- a weeklong theme in the Devils' locker room -- when he threw in this little addendum after practice Sunday:

"We just have to find a way. We found a way against Giguere in '03. We'll find a way against him.''

Those are bold words, given the way the Rangers goaltender has played in the Eastern Conference finals, shutting out the Devils twice. But it also is a testament to how good he has been that his counterpart had to reach back nine years for a reference point.

It was in '03 that Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the Mighty Ducks had one of the greatest playoff runs in goaltending history but fell to the Devils in seven games in the Stanley Cup Finals. (He won the Conn Smythe Trophy anyway.)

So far, Lundqvist has shown no signs of a similar fate. In '03, the Devils scored eight goals (one into an empty net) through their first three games against Anaheim. Against Lundqvist, they have scored three, all in Game 2.

The Devils continue to insist they will not let Lundqvist's star turn deflate them emotionally.

"It's good that we got chances,'' said Ilya Kovalchuk, who missed on two partial breakaways in Game 3. "It would be frustrating if we didn't have any chances. Then it's a problem.''

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Coach Peter DeBoer also said he was pleased with the team's play Saturday and confident more of the same will yield more victories than losses. Still, he juggled his lines in practice Sunday, as he did after the Game 1 shutout.

It appears Game 4 will find Dainius Zubrus joining Zach Parise and Travis Zajac on the first line, with the next consisting of Patrik Elias, Adam Henrique and Kovalchuk.

Jacob Josefson is expected to play on the third line, his first action since suffering a broken wrist April 3. Petr Sykora most likely will be scratched.

Why the changes after New Jersey played well despite the loss? "We got shut out,'' DeBoer said. "We're trying to generate some offense . . . The easy thing would be to stick with it and hope you do the same thing next game and score.''

Said Parise: "We have to get something going. We'll see. Hopefully, it will stick.''

The Devils captain spoke at length at his locker, a customary role for him. That was why reporters were so surprised Saturday when he declined to speak to the media for the first time this season.

Frustrated? "Nope,'' he said. "I probably would have said some things I regretted.''

There was widespread speculation Parise clammed up in reaction to a story in Newsday on Friday in which his father, J.P., was quoted saying he would "fit right in'' with the Rangers as a free agent after the season.

But Parise said: "I was just upset with the way the game went, that was it. I feel like I've done a pretty good job making myself available for almost a hundred games this year. I figured if I took one night off, it would be OK.''

Devils fans only want Parise to make sure he shows up for work Monday, preferably putting a puck or two behind Lundqvist.

"Let's face it; he's played really well,'' Parise said. "He's played well all season, all playoffs. I think it's important for us to not overanalyze and not pass up opportunities, not look for a perfect shot, just keep shooting.

"We're getting the chances. They will go in.''