The Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The last thing the New Jersey Devils want to do is go back to Ottawa.

That's why they are treating tonight's Game 6 against the Senators at Continental Airlines Arena as if it's the last game of the Eastern Conference finals.

"It's something we have to put in our minds, that we need to do this now," Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said. "From now on, the longer you wait to take a team out, the harder it is. These guys will get momentum if we don't cut it now."

The Senators picked up some momentum Monday night when they avoided elimination with a 3-1 victory that cut the Devils' lead in the best-of-7 series to 3-2.

"We have to be better than we were last night," Senators center Bryan Smolinski said. "Whatever we did well, we're going to have to do better, do more, but be controlled also. Understand that it's live or die, and we give ourselves the best chance."

The Devils were kicking themselves Tuesday because they didn't match the Senators' intensity throughout Game 5 in Ottawa.

The biggest lapse came in the third period when Ottawa scored twice and New Jersey didn't test goaltender Patrick Lalime much.

"There was zero desperation," Devils right wing Grant Marshall said. "Sure, there was some work and some good things, but we didn't play at all. We didn't play very good at all. We played their transition game. We have to get back to playing our game."

The Devils have not lost at home in eight playoff games.

They also have not lost consecutive games in the postseason, bouncing back after each of their three previous losses.