Bewitched, bothered and bedeviled

Sporting News, The, March 28, 1994 by Mike Tully

So far, the Devils haven't even been able to stir real emotion in Rangers fans, the kind of emotion that is reserved for the Islanders. "Not yet," says The Chief, a Rangers fan who wanders Madison Square Garden wearing an Indian headdress. "But they will as soon as they beat the Rangers in a playoff series. That's not to put any disrespect on them, but they will have to beat the Rangers in a play-off series to get the intensity of dislike."

Several Devils agree, including Stevens, who says, "The regular season isn't going to change people. After the season is when you change people's minds."

Two years ago, the Devils had a chance when they met the Rangers in the first round, but they lost in seven games. They could meet again this year if each club survives a round or two.

Some elements suggest the Devils could do it.

* In Lemaire's style, the Devils don't allow many goals.

* They dominate at home, play over .500 on the road and fare well in the division and conference.

* If you throw out the five games between the clubs, the Devils have a better record than the Rangers.

* Entering the week, not a single player on the roster was on the minus side in the plus-minus ratings.

* The Devils exhibit four fast lines and an aggressive transition game that ranks with any in the league.

* In Brodeur, they have a promising goalie. Defenseman Scott Niedermayer is playing his second full NHL season, and he's still just 20 years old. Niedermayer and Stevens rank among the league leaders in plus-minus ratings. John MacLean, pretty much healed from knee surgery, could reach 40 goals for the fourth time in five seasons.

As for weaknesses, the main point against the Devils is that they haven't achieved success in the playoffs. But there are a couple of other technical points that should be examined, such as:

* In a game in which teams find themselves playing a man short or with a man advantage more than at even strength, neither the Devils' power play nor their penalty killing has dominated this season.

* Though Patrick Roy, Mike Vernon and Ron Hextall had success as youngsters in their first playoff tests, more young goaltenders crack under playoff pressure. That's a concern for the Devils if they pick Brodeur over more experienced Chris Terreri.

* They also lack a game-breaking passer as demonstrated by the fact that five Devils had as many assists as any of the team's centers.

"Last year, our centers were criticized for not scoring goals," Lamoriello says. "Although everyone would like to have a certain kind of player, you have to dwell on your assets. Our strengths are our balance and the commitment that they have to each other as far as competing every night."

When it works, it works.

"They're fighting for first place because of their discipline without the puck," Canucks Coach Pat Quinn says. "They're cashing in on their counterattack."

Quinn marvels at a first period in which the Devils outshot the Canucks, 12-6. "That's the first time this year we've been limited to just one scoring chance in a period," he says.