EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — They've got to get back to playing their game, not the other team's game. They've got to put more pressure on a goalie who's not getting tested enough. They've got to be more physical.

Funny, the same things the Mighty Ducks were saying after losing two games in New Jersey, the Devils were saying Tuesday following consecutive Stanley Cup finals losses in Anaheim.

The Devils seemed firmly in control of the series after manhandling the Ducks twice in New Jersey last week, but the overtime losses at the Pond changed everything.

Once up comfortably in the series, the Devils no longer have any margin for error. A loss tonight would give Anaheim the chance to clinch on home ice Saturday.

Wasn't this series supposed to have been over only a few days ago?

"We didn't generate as much in the physical side of the game. They probably gave us a little bit more," coach Pat Burns said Tuesday night. "It's up to us to respond on Thursday."

As frustrated as the Devils were by scoring only two goals in the two road losses, they were just as disappointed by how they lost. If they had won either of the overtime games, they would be looking at clinching the Cup at home Thursday night.

"In the way that they (the Ducks) played in Game 3 and Game 4 — if you look back — they were totally a different team," goalie Martin Brodeur said Tuesday. "We took advantage of when they didn't play too well to get some wins. Our job was to win at least one game on the road and we didn't do that, but it took two overtime games to beat us. That's the kind of positive you've got to take out of that."

Burns feels much the same way.

"Two games in overtime is very difficult to really say that your team is down," Burns said. "I don't think that this team is down . . . I don't think that this team has quit or thought at any point in time that we were down and out."

The way Burns was talking, it's almost as though Ducks coach Mike Babcock had passed along his script from a week ago.

The home-ice advantage hasn't always been a big edge in recent finals; Dallas (1999) and New Jersey (2000) each won the Cup on the road. But with every period being played as though it's overtime, and goals now so hard to score, the Devils are thankful they will be at home for Game 5 and, if needed, Game 7.

"I think confidence-wise in the way they played in the first two games, I'm sure it's in the back of their heads a little bit," Brodeur said. "It's going to be important for us to really use that."

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Some help also might be on the way. After losing 96 of 152 face-offs in Anaheim, the Devils could get their best face-off man, center Joe Nieuwendyk, back for Game 5.

Nieuwendyk hasn't played in the series because of what is being described as a lower body injury. He didn't make the trip to Anaheim because the team's medical staff didn't want him flying five hours-plus each way or missing any rehabilitation work.

Devils right wing Turner Stevenson (groin) also could be ready to play. He has missed nine games because of the injury, and was out for two games during the second-round series against Tampa Bay.

"Joe was our best player in the Ottawa series before he got hurt. He was at the top of his game," Burns said. "Just his presence definitely helps us . . . With the presence of a Joe Nieuwendyk and-or a Turner Stevenson definitely gives us a little bit more in the lineup."

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