East Rutherford, NJ (My Sportsbook) - The New Jersey Devils try to take a two games to none series lead today when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series at the Meadowlands.

New Jersey won Thursday's opener 3-0, backed by a dominating defensive performance and 15 saves from goaltender Martin Brodeur. Jamie Langenbrunner, John Madden and Turner Stevenson scored for the Devs, who ousted Boston in five games in the first round.

The Devils especially shined in shutting down the Lightning's big three of Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Vaclav Prospal after the trio almost single-handedly carried the team back from an 0-2 hole in the first round. The line, which didn't actually play together until midway through the opening period, combined for a meager four shots on Thursday and each player was a minus-2.

"It's important that we establish ourselves," said Brodeur, who notched his third shutout of these playoffs. "It's not going to be an easy series for them. They'll have to work hard to try and beat us. We have a good system and we've got to play it well. In the first game we showed them how we're going to play."

The Lightning, although a team must be patient against New Jersey's suffocating defensive scheme, appeared too passive in Game 1.

"We just have to bring more energy and physical play," said St. Louis, who scored three consecutive game-winners against the Capitals. "We can play a lot harder than that. I don't know if we were tired or what, but we didn't play with the energy that we have or the intensity."

Tampa Bay, while it may not have made a difference in the end, could have also used a better showing from All-Star goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin. After keeping the game scoreless, the Bulin Wall allowed three very suspect goals, including two tallies 3:47 apart in the third period. Langenbrunner's knuckler of a shot fluttered its way in to open the scoring 7:41 into the final frame.

Khabibulin also got off to a less than spectacular start versus the Capitals, before outplaying counterpart Olaf Kolzig in the final four games.

As for the New Jersey attack, Langenbrunner and Madden carried their momentum from Round 1 into this series with their goals on Thursday. Langenbrunner has been the offensive catalyst the club lacked in the regular season, potting six playoff goals in as many games.

Madden scored his third marker of the postseason and continued to do a fantastic job in the defensive end as well. The former Selke winner, who helped shut down Boston's Joe Thornton in Round 1, often went head-to-head with Lecavalier on Thursday.

Brodeur, who blanked Boston in Game 5 last round, has posted a shutout streak of 146:01 at the Meadowlands, which is a franchise record. He has stopped his last 50 shots on home ice dating back to Apr. 11.

The Devils have some history on their side now, as they are 10-4 all-time when winning the first match of a series.

Game 3 will be played Monday night at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.