Rare goal comes at best possible time
Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Scott Niedermayer has a feeling
roommate Ken Daneyko isn't going to shut up for a while -- not after
scoring a goal.
Daneyko ended a 48-game playoff scoring drought with probably
the biggest goal of his career by breaking a second-period tie and
helping the Devils to a surprisingly easy 7-3 victory over the
Dallas Stars in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals Tuesday night.
|  | | Ken Daneyko has been in New Jersey for a long time, embracing the team with no city. |
"I kept telling the guys all season I was going to score, but I
was just saving it for a big occasion," said Daneyko, whose last
goal of any sort was 475 days ago against Vancouver on Feb. 9,
1999. "I think their patience was running out with me."
The goal was only the fifth in 126 playoff games for Daneyko, a
15-year veteran who had scored only 34 in 1,070 career
regular-season games, but only 11 since the 1991-92 season.
However, this one was as huge as any the Devils scored against
Ed Belfour and Manny Fernandez in the opener of the best-of-seven
series.
It broke a 1-1 tie and ignited a three-goal second period that
helped New Jersey build a 7-1 lead early in the third period.
Rookie center John Madden, who is playing despite problems with
his right knee, beat Guy Carbonneau on a faceoff in the left
circle.
Sergei Brylin got the puck on the left edge of the circle and
sent it back to Daneyko, who hesitated a split second and then
wound up and fired. His shot went right between the legs of Belfour
on what seemed like a soft goal.
"I was surprised, any time I score I'm surprised," said
Daneyko, who jumped up and down like a little kid scoring his first
goal in pee-wees. "Tonight the puck came to me a lot and
fortunately one went in. I'm not going to get too crazy. For a guy
like me, it's always nice to score, especially on a big occasion
like this."
His teammates loved it and they high-fived the 36-year-old as he
got to the bench.
"Kenny's goal was great," said captain Scott Stevens, who also
scored, possibly marking the first time he and "Dano" got goals
in the same game. "When he shot I was on the bench. I was hoping
no one else touched it. I wanted to see him score."
Daneyko even laughed about his own reaction.
"I usually don't get too excited about goals, but I was pretty
excited after that one," he said.
So was goaltender Martin Brodeur. He has been teasing Daneyko
about his lack of scoring since being credited with a goal earlier
this season.
"It was emotional for everyone to see him score," Brodeur
said. "A big goal like this and the way he reacted. He deserves
what happens to him. He has been working hard."
Daneyko's last playoff goal had been in the opening game of the
Eastern Conference finals against the Philadelphia Flyers in 1995,
the only time the Devils won the Stanley Cup.
"To tell you the truth I don't remember my goals because they
are so few and far between," Daneyko said.
While Daneyko got a rare goal, the Devils' top line of Jason
Arnott, Petr Sykora and Patrik Elias continued to produce, with
Arnott and Sykora scoring two each. Brylin also scored in the
Devils' second biggest night in their playoff history.
In the last four playoff games, Arnott, Sykora and Elias have
accounted for nine of the Devils' 15 goals.
Elias' two in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals got the
Devils to the best-of-seven finals against the defending champion
Stars.
However, Daneyko's goal at 2:53 of the second period ignited New
Jersey's explosion against the Stars, who only allowed six goals in
the final three games of the Western Conference finals against
Colorado.
"Kenny's playing good defensively and it's really a bonus when
Kenny scores a goal," Sykora said.
Not for Niedermayer.
"We'll definitely hear about it for a while," Niedermayer
said. "He loves to talk about it and I'm sure I'll be hearing
about it for a while as his roommate." |
