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Friday, Mar. 31 7:30pm ET
Thrashers offer cure for Devils' slump | |||||
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Even with New Jersey in a first-place fight for the best record in the Eastern Conference, Devils coach Larry Robinson isn't worried about wins and losses. "Right now its more important how we play than where we end up," Robinson said after the Devils routed the expansion Atlanta Thrashers 6-0 on Friday night to move into sole possession of first place in the conference with 99 points. "I'm not looking at victories or in reality even losses. If we play well and the way we're going to have to play come playoff time, then everything will take care of itself." Robinson replaced Robbie Ftorek as coach four games ago. The Devils lead the Capitals by two points in the standings. "We can't worry what Washington is going to do," Robinson said. "The only thing we can worry about is what we're going to do. The thing I liked the most tonight is we got a solid effort from everybody." The Devils snapped a two-game losing streak and handed the Thrashers their fifth straight loss. Atlanta is winless in its last seven and have won just once in its last 18 games. "Look at the situation these teams are in," Atlanta coach Curt Fraser said. ""We're playing for nothing. We are here to have some of our young guys get some time on the ice. They are playing for first place. This was a must win for New Jersey. If they came up with anything short of a big win you would have to ask whether they could right the ship." The Devils took a 1-0 lead 1:44 into the game when Colin White's shot from inside the blue line sailed past Atlanta's Damian Rhodes. It was White's second goal of the year. The play started with Bobby Holik digging the puck out from behind the Thrashers net and passing it to Claude Lemieux, who was just inside the blue line on the right side. Lemieux's cross ice pass left White with a clear shot. Goalie Martin Brodeur, who collected his 42nd career shutout by stopping 22 shots, protected the lead with three acrobatic saves within a 12-second stretch midway through the period. New Jersey made it 2-0 on a power play goal by Scott Gomez at 6:13 of the second period. It was the 19th goal of the season for the rookie center. Gomez also had two assists. Before the period ended, the Devils led 4-0 on John Madden's 16th goal and Petr Sykora's 25th. The Devils added another at 7:06 of the third period as Sergei Brylin converted passes from Scott Stevens and Gomez for his eighth goal, while Stevens scored his seventh on assists from Gomez and Alexander Mogilny 3½ minutes later. | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard Atlanta Clubhouse New Jersey Clubhouse RECAPS Carolina 3 Buffalo 1
New Jersey 6 AUDIO/VIDEO   Goalie Martin Brodeur keeps his shutout going.avi: 623 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1   | |||||