CBC-Sports

Travis Zajac gets his biggest goal as a Devil

April 20, 2009 10:15 AM | Posted by   CBC Sports Staff  

No one should have been surprised when Travis Zajac scored the overtime goal for the Devils to give them a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with the Carolina Hurricanes Sunday night.

After all, Zajac is the Devils' first-line center.

But he hadn't scored a goal in 15 games going back to March 17 and linemate Jamie Langenbrunner was back in New Jersey with a lower body injury.

Nevertheless, Zajac scored after 4:58 of OT.

"I was definitely gripping my stick a little tighter," Zajac said. "It was bound to come. I was getting chances."

Coach Brent Sutter had faith.

"I wasn't too worried about Trav's goal-scoring," Sutter said. "Players like that, if they pay attention to details, the goals will be there for them. Sure it's nice to see a player rewarded. But it's not like he hasn't been playing well."

Zajac's goal came after an initial shot from Zach Parise.

"It's great to see him rewarded," Parise said.

A series changer?

"It's huge," Brian Gionta said. "It's a big win for us. You don't want to be down, 2-1, with another game here (at the RBC Center in Raleigh)."

DEVILS' OT JINX VS. HURRICANES IS SNAPPED

The Devils had never beaten the Carolina Hurricanes in an overtime playoff game. They were 0-5.

They also lost six straight playoff games at RBC Center going back to April 22, 2001.

The jinx is over.

"The first overtime game at home (Game 2 Friday in New Jersey) we were playing not to lose," Zach Parise said. "This time we went after them."

The Hurricanes weren't relying on history.

"You can't rely on, ‘Because we had won in overtimes before,'" defenseman Niclas Wallin said. "It's good to know that we've won overtime games, that we're not going to sit back. … We got to overtime, but they got the goal."

ROLSTON AND HOLIK COME THROUGH FOR DEVILS

Neither Brian Rolston nor Bobby Holik had a point.

Holik, back in the Devils' lineup after being a healthy scratch in the first two games, even took a penalty that could have been costly.

But Rolston played very well and the Devils killed off all five Carolina power plays in Game 3.

"Rolie plays the same style as Zach," Travis Zajac said of Rolston. "He has good speed and a great shot. He made his presence felt."

It was a little tougher for a rusty Holik.

"No timing, no rhythm, no confidence," Holik said after the game. "Jumping in mid-series in the playoffs I wouldn't recommended it to anybody."

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