They were heroic in winning without three of their top stars. Still, the nature and number of those injuries cast a deep shadow on the Devils’ chances in the postseason.
Martin Brodeur is going to have to finally win the Conn Smythe Trophy for the Devils to win the Cup. It’s unlikely to happen any other way.
Nevertheless, the Devils have guts aplenty, and they made that enough, along with a sparkling Brodeur, for a 3-2 victory Thursday in Raleigh.
“We don’t make excuses,” Jamie Langenbrunner said. “If there are guys out of the lineup, it doesn’t matter.”
The banged-up Devils will need that same attitude this afternoon when the Hurricanes visit the Meadowlands (1 p.m., FSN, WFAN) in the second half of the home-and-home series.
The list of injured Devils is a long one.
* Brian Gionta’s groin injury has already recurred, and that lessens the chances of it fully healing without an off-season.
* Superchecker John Madden is suffering another groin injury, although Lou Lamoriello insists it’s different from last year’s that turned out to be a hernia requiring surgery last summer.
* Captain and top scorer Patrik Elias is also being plagued by the groin injury bugaboo.
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The Hurricanes’ Cam Ward is out with a lacerated leg.