Opening win not that easy, Devils say

NEWARK, N.J. — Rarely has a team tried so hard to sound so unimpressed with itself.

The New Jersey Devils were at their humble best after their practice at the Prudential Center, saying all the right things, insisting their 4-1 win over the Canes in the opening game of the playoffs wasn't nearly as dominating — the word so widely used Wednesday night — as it appeared.

"I think we played a pretty solid game, start to finish," captain Jamie Langenbrunner said. "I think the power play needs to be a little better as the series moves on. But I think it was the type of game we want to play."

Were the Devils expecting more fight from the Canes, who won three of four games in the regular-season series? It was, after all, a playoff opener.

"I don't think there was a lack of fight," Langenbrunner said. "We took away a lot of their time and space and it was one of the nights the puck was on our tape. We found a lot of the bounces.

"We have to continue to push for that. We know they'll come even harder and be more desperate. It was anything but an easy game."

Told it appeared to be a dominating performance is nearly every aspect, Langenbrunner shrugged.

"I don't know," he said. "It was 1-0 after one. I think we controlled a lot of the play in the first period and it was only 1-0.

"They had a few opportunities — (Chad) LaRose came in point-blank. They were around the net. Things can change so quickly and one goal means the difference this time of year and changes the way the game is played. I wouldn't say we were dominant by any means."

Often taking away time and space from the Canes' Eric Staal was veteran Devils center John Madden. Like Lagenbrunner, he said it was anything but easy keeping Staal and his line in check, even though Staal had two shots and the line four in all.

"He's a great hockey player and for a big guy he's fast," Madden said. "He's tough to cover because he has a lot of ammunition in his repertoire.

"He doesn't just come down and shoot or muscle you — he has a bunch of different things he likes to use. When you're unpredictable that makes it hard to play against."

Madden said he expects his defensive job to be harder as the series progresses.

"Even though we won Game One, it's over," he said. "We've got to figure out a way to win Game Two, and when that's over we've got to figure out a way to win Game Three.

"That's the mentality we have to have. They're going to come harder. I don't think they had their best game and I'm expecting it to be a lot different tomorrow."

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