Ottawa, Ontario (My Sportsbook) - The New Jersey Devils attempt to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the third time in four years tonight when they visit the Ottawa Senators for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals at Corel Centre.

The Devils, who would draw a date with the West-champion Mighty Ducks of Anaheim with a win, hold a three games to one lead in the series and can secure their fourth Finals berth overall. They made the championship round in 1995, 2000 and '01, winning the first two times.

Jersey coach Pat Burns, however, knows his club will be facing a wounded animal this evening.

"They know this is almost like a Game 7 for Ottawa, when you have your back up against the wall like that," Burns said. "When you are in a series and you are trying to get that fourth win, it's the toughest game to win. I think everybody knows that in the dressing room."

New Jersey, which won its first two playoff sets this year in five games, took firm command of this series with Saturday's 5-2 victory at the Meadowlands. The Devils scored four unanswered goals after falling behind 2-1, receiving a tally and assist apiece from Jay Pandolfo, Patrik Elias and John Madden in the game. Grant Marshall and Jeff Friesen also found the net, while Martin Brodeur finished with 26 saves.

"This is a game we didn't dominate, but we found a way to win," Friesen said.

While the Devils didn't carry Saturday's contest throughout, they have ruled the last three tilts on paper. New Jersey has outscored Ottawa by a 10-3 margin since falling in the series opener.

The Devs' attack has continued to receive support from secondary sources -- Madden and Pandolfo -- while at the same time Elias and Friesen, the club's top guns in the regular season, have begun to contribute. Elias had scored only once in the playoffs before Saturday, while Friesen has two goals in the last three games.

As for Pandolfo, he has found the net four times in this series, and would have a fifth marker had the officials not made their infamous blunder in Game 3.

And backing up the Devils timely scoring continues to be Brodeur, who has stopped 80-of-83 shots in the last three matches. Brodeur's 1.50 goals-against average and .943 save percentage this postseason are second to Anaheim's Jean- Sebastien Giguere, whom he'll get to face if New Jersey advances. Brodeur's four playoff shutouts match his career high set in 2001.

Brodeur has helped keep the Senators' top guns off the board in this series, as the right wing trio of Daniel Alfredsson, Marian Hossa and Martin Havlat has combined for a meager three assists in the series. The three players accounted for 13 goals in the first two rounds.

Ottawa, which won its second-round set with Philadelphia on the strength of its special teams, is 0-for-17 on the power play versus New Jersey.

Last, but not the least important aspect of Sens' struggles is goaltender Patrick Lalime, who made only 15 saves in Game 4. Lalime had allowed two goals or less in a record 11 straight games before the last three contests. He has surrendered 10 goals on 65 shots since.

The Senators are behind 3-1 in a series for just the second time in their history, as they lost to Washington in five games in the 1998 second round. Ottawa is 0-6 all-time when facing elimination.

"I don't really think [that mark] means anything," said Alfredsson. "Those things happened in the past. This team is different. We've had success all year and we still feel if we play the way we can play we can have success in this series."

New Jersey, meanwhile, is 8-0 all-time in sets it has led 3-1.

Game 6, if necessary, would be played Wednesday night at the Meadowlands.