Prior to Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, Devils coach Pete DeBoer said Zach Parise was one of the Devils’ best players of the series despite being held off the scoresheet. Last night, Parise made his coach seem like Nostradamus, scoring the game’s first goal in a 2-1 win over the Kings at the Prudential Center as the Devils survived to play another day.
“I go into every game expecting Zach to do something big,” DeBoer said after his team had forced Game 6, to be played tomorrow night in Los Angeles. “He is that type of player. I think you guys just [ticked] him off, that’s all. Keep doing it.”
DeBoer was referring to the media asking Parise if he was frustrated with his lack of scoring in this series. When a similar situation occurred last round against the Rangers, and Parise uncharacteristically didn’t talk after a Game 3 loss, he responded with two goals and an assist in a 4-1 Devils win.
“I understand you guys have a job to do. No disrespect, but I don’t read or listen to what you guys say,” Parise said. “I understand it comes with the territory and where we are, what’s expected of certain players, but again, I thought we were playing fine.”
Halfway through the first period, with the Devils on the power play, Parise’s aggressive forecheck created a 1-0 lead.
Goalie Jonathan Quick came out to play the puck, which was behind the Kings’ net. He didn’t get all of it, however, and it caromed weakly off the boards in front of his net where Parise grabbed it and stashed it in.
“I made a not-so-great pass across the ice to Patty [Elias]. He wasn’t looking, and I just saw Quick going out of the net,” Parise said. “Just went on the normal forecheck route that I’ve gone on 1,000 times this year. He just happened to misplay it and put it on my stick. You’ve got to get lucky sometimes.”
Parise hadn’t scored since Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Rangers, when he had a goal and an assist. Last night he had a goal, three shots, and a key block to preserve the 1-0 lead.
“He stays calm, he is our leader,” Adam Henrique said. “It was nice to see him get that first one tonight. The guys rallied around him. He led the way.”
“[Parise] is an unbelievable player. He’s probably the hardest working guy in the league, there is no doubt in my mind. It was a huge goal for us. No question he was going to come out with a good game.”