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Youthful energy is what it's all about

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Updated Apr 21, 2009 2:30 PM ET
     
 
NEWARK - Hanging on the walls in the players? lounge at Prudential Center are photos of the Devils? three Stanley Cup-winning teams. The Devils have 11 players on their postseason roster who know the joy of posing for one of those pictures with the Stanley Cup. That leaves 14 others, however, that never have experienced it. Much emphasis is placed on the importance of experience in the playoffs, but there also are times when the hunger of a young player ? or a veteran ? who never has won the Cup can make a difference. "I think it?s the excitement of these players that makes everything go," said three-time Cup-winning goaltender Martin Brodeur, whose team carried a 1-0 series lead into Friday night?s Game 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against Carolina. "The veterans, we?ve been around. We?ve done it before. But it?s nice to see. That?s the beauty of playing in the playoffs, is to try to share what you?ve accomplished with other players, so that you see the determination of guys wanting to be successful. It?s kind of a fun thing to see them go. "They?re part of the team and as important as the veteran players." No player was more important to the Devils during the regular season than left wing Zach Parise, who drew some attention as a Hart Trophy candidate by leading the team with 45 goals and 94 points. His goal total tied for the third highest total in team history and his points total tied for the second most in Devils? history. Parise, 24, has yet to drink from the Stanley Cup, though. In fact, in three previous trips to the playoffs, Parise has not advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs. "Maybe something else happens in the third round that I don?t know about," said Parise, who scored the winning goal in the Devils? 4-1 victory in Game 1. "Once you are involved in the playoffs, it?s pretty intense and, hopefully, we can go a little further than the second round this year." So, going deeper in the playoffs and raising that Cup over his head are what drive him now. "I know it sounds clich?, but it?s what you dream about when you?re playing growing up," Parise said. "You want to so bad to have one of those big pictures in the hallway and for you to be on them with the Stanley Cup. It?s definitely motivation, even for the guys that have won it. "From what I?ve heard, when you win it once, you want so bad to do it again. For a young guy, it would be unbelievable." Parise scored seven goals in 11 playoff games two seasons ago, but netted only one in the team?s five-game, first-round loss to the Rangers last season. Linemate Travis Zajac similarly is motivated to pick up his game in this year?s playoffs. Last year, he had only one point ? an assist in Game 5 ? in the loss to the Rangers. In his third trip to the playoffs, Zajac, 23, is determined to contribute more this time around. "I think I?ve got a feel now for what the playoffs is all about in the National Hockey League," said Zajac, who assisted on Parise?s Game 1 winner. "It?s time to become more of an impact player in the playoffs and trying to help this team more than I have the last couple of years." E-mail: gulitti@northjersey.com
Tagged: Travis Zajac, Devils, Zach Parise, Rangers

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