Devils look to bounce back after opening game loss

No strangers to losing the first game of a playoff series, the New Jersey Devils know losing the first two at home would dig a deep hole.

New Jersey lost their openers against both Philadelphia and the Rangers before coming back to win the series.

They may be used to it but veteran goalie Martin Brodeur says being down a game is never a comfortable situation — especially against a stingy team like the Los Angeles Kings with a 9-0 record on the playoffs road.

“Getting off to a 0-2 start would be a tough one to overcome,” the 40-year-old goalie acknowledged Friday as the Devils returned to practice after a day off. “Like they did to every single team they started in the playoffs on the road against. It’s in the back of our heads a little bit.”

Game 2 is Saturday at the Prudential Center.

Devils coach Peter DeBoer says the team knows what to do.

“We know we’ve been here before. I think also after looking at the tape, we know what we have to fix. So I think there’s a comfort level there that we can get that done.”

And despite the Kings’ perfect record away from home, DeBoer says the Devils are getting other benefits than last line change at home.

“I think the big thing is the crowd, the environment, sleeping in your own bed. All those things. I know L.A.’s record kind of, I guess, minimizes the sounds of that with what they’ve done on the road but it’s important to us.

“We’ve been a good home team. We’ve played well here. I know we’re going to throw a good game out there Saturday night.”

To do that, DeBoer said the team needs to test goalie Jonathan Quick more than it did on Wednesday.

“I think we made it too easy on him. We had some opportunities. But we didn’t do enough to make it tough on him.”

And his skilled players have to step up after not playing their best in Game 1.

“I think if you asked our group, there’s a lot of guys on that list,” DeBoer said.

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