Just a few things that caught my eye ...
- Top cheddar wins it, but it probably shouldn't have -- that was the first iffy goal Jonathan Quick has allowed all postseason. Mind you, it's apparently just the sixth "bad" goal for his entire season. Seriously. Number six. I'll cut him some slack.
- Can anyone explain to me how a 22-year-old rookie ends up providing the "veteran" leadership the Devils need to win? Adam Henrique was instrumental -- no, critical -- to two Windsor Spitfire Memorial Cup wins. And now, three of his four goals have been game winners. I love the guy, but where is everyone else?
- The Devils certainly were the better team this night. But a stay of execution -- by it's very definition -- is only temporary. And now it may have simply brought the pain to home ice -- the Kings have won all 10 of their road playoff games. And only one team -- the 1942 Maple Leafs -- has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit to hoist the Cup.
- Whose 14 points are more impressive this postseason -- Zach Parise's or Drew Doughty's? I know where my vote lies. But you know I'm a sucker for blue-line brilliance.
- Patrick Elias -- crease crasher? What gives? He's one of the last guys I thought would take on that job. Besides, his butt isn't nearly big enough for that gig.
- Talk about living the dream -- Bryce Salvador is now the Devils' third highest scorer (13 points) this postseason. And just one point back of Mr. Parise ...
- Ilya Kovalchuk has nothing this series -- that herniated disc has neutered him. He's passing when he should be shooting, whuffing when he does shoot and bailing whenever a hit is coming. And I haven't even described his putrid power-play work ...
- I cut Jonathan Quick some slack on that Henrique goal, but not on his chirping at the refs after the game. He needs to stay locked in and that sure wasn't. It's one of the first chinks in his armor. The Kings will only win if he gets back in the zone.
- Anton Volchenkov switched to right D to accommodate Henrik Tallinder's return. It could prove to be a big mistake for the Devils -- it moves him away from Jeff Carter and exposes him along the wall (on his backhand, no less) to monster hitters, Dustin Brown and Dustin Penner. Just saying.
- Kick save and a beauty -- Martin Brodeur is dancing with the girl who brought him. His style is old school, but it works. And it's fun.