RALEIGH, N.C., April 24 (UPI) -- The New Jersey Devils look to ride their momentum to take a one-game lead Wednesday night in their NHL Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
New Jersey dropped a pair of one-goal decisions on the road to start the best-of-seven series, but rebounded with two convincing home wins to reduce the series to a best-of-three affair.
Goaltending is a major reason for the reversal.
Martin Brodeur fell 2:37 of his second straight shutout, and rookie Brian Gionta had a shorthanded goal and an assist in Tuesday's 3-1 victory in Game Four. Brodeur has turned aside 39 of 40 shots in the past two games.
New Jersey is 4-for-11 on the power play over the last two games after going 1-for-10 in the first two.
Carolina might try to change things up with a new starting goaltender. Arturs Irbe has been pulled from two straight games.
The diminutive Latvian surrendered three goals on 12 shots Saturday and two goals on eight shots Tuesday. Both times he was replaced by Kevin Weekes, who has turned aside 35 of the 37 shots he has faced.
Carolina needs its top line to start putting up some points. Ron Francis, Sami Kapanen and Jeff O'Neill have only two assists in the four games after combining for 85 goals and 210 points in the regular season. Rookie Erik Cole has two goals for the Hurricanes while Rod Brind'Amour, Bates Battaglia and Aaron Ward have one apiece.
Game Six will be held at New Jersey on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Philadelphia, trailing Ottawa, two games to one, tries to stay alive at home against the Senators; ditto for the New York Islanders as they host Toronto, and the Phoenix Coyotes as they entertain the San Jose Sharks.
