NHL ROUNDUP | Sunday's game

Devils 3, Lightning 2
TAMPA, Fla. -- The New Jersey Devils insisted all along that Martin Brodeur wouldn't let them down. Brodeur stopped 32 shots and Brian Gionta scored two goals Sunday to lead the Atlantic Division champions into the second round of the NHL playoffs. Brian Rafalski also scored and Patrick Elias assisted on all three of New Jersey's goals to ensure the best-of-seven series would end in six games. The Devils advanced to play the Ottawa Senators. Brad Richards scored two power-play goals for Tampa Bay, which was shutout by Brodeur in Game 5 after scoring three goals against the three-time Stanley Cup champion goalie in each of the first four games. Brodeur's performance in the first three games raised questions about his vulnerability. He rebounded from squandering a two-goal lead in the second period of Game 4, which New Jersey won in overtime, then stopped 31 shots for his 22nd career playoff shutout Friday night. Brodeur's 93rd postseason win moved him ahead of Grant Fuhr and into second place on the career playoff list behind Patrick Roy's 151. Despite being shut out in Game 5, the Lightning outshot the Devils 31-14 and carried the same mind-set into Sunday. They dominated early again, making Brodeur work to keep New Jersey from falling behind. Gionta's power-play goal snapped a scoreless tie with 5:31 remaining in the opening period and Rafalski's second goal of the playoffs made it 2-0. Gionta's shot from the left circle gave the Devils a 3-1 lead just 39 seconds after Tampa Bay broke through against Brodeur for the first time since the second period of Game 4.
Associated Press
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