Late Maple Leaf Goal Has Devils on Edge

This time Martin Brodeur got blindsided by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and now the defending champion New Jersey Devils are in danger of losing more than a player.

Lord Stanley’s trophy is slipping from their grasp.

Tomas Kaberle’s controversial goal with 29.4 seconds to play lifted the Maple Leafs past the Devils, 3-2, Saturday night, pushing New Jersey to the brink of playoff elimination.

Game 6 will be played Monday night at Toronto. If a seventh game is necessary, it will be Wednesday at the Continental Airlines Arena.

“These guys have to close us,” Brodeur said after the Devils fell behind, 3-2, in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal. “We have to come back, but the pressure is on them.”

The Maple Leafs got the lead in the series by overcoming the suspension of Tie Domi for a cheap-shot hit on Scott Niedermayer late in Game 4, and then getting a crucial no-call from referee Bill McCreary on Kaberle’s first goal of the playoffs.

Kaberle’s shot from the left faceoff circle went into the net seconds after Shayne Corson bowled over Brodeur in goal.

McCreary ruled Devils defenseman Colin White pushed Corson into Brodeur.

Brodeur argued the call with McCreary.

“Hopefully, you want to be able to try to see the puck and try to stop the puck,” Brodeur said. “Whatever reason, I was knocked down; it’s frustrating when you don’t get a chance to even see the pass or the puck coming at you.”

The last thing Brodeur saw was Darcy Tucker with the puck behind the net after taking a pass from Corson, who then drove to the net and crashed into the goaltender.

Last year, the Devils overcame a 3-1 deficit against Philadelphia in the conference final en route to winning their second Stanley Cup since 1995.