The Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Three unconventional goals in a totally out-of-character game put the New Jersey Devils in a familiar position - up 3-2 in the Stanley Cup finals.

Brian Gionta scored a goal and set up Jay Pandolfo for the

go-ahead score - neither of which went off the Devils' sticks - in a decisive second period as New Jersey beat the Anaheim Mighty Ducks 6-3 in Game 5 Thursday night.

After four consecutive games of limited scoring chances, minimal open ice, shutouts and excellent goaltending, all of the above vanished in a shootout that was the antithesis of the series to date.

"I don't know where this came from," Ducks coach Mike Babcock said.

"It was unbelievable," Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said.

What stayed the same was the Devils' dominance on home ice. They have outscored the Ducks 11-3 while winning all three games at Continental Airlines Arena. The Devils are 11-1 at home in the playoffs, matching Edmonton's 1988 record for home wins in a single playoff year.

"We knew the pressure was on us tonight, and I think now we've put a little bit on them," Devils coach Pat Burns said. "The team rallied around each other, pushing each other and giving hell to each other, which made my job easier. I could see that on the bench."

What the Devils can see clearly is the Stanley Cup, and they're only one victory from their third Cup in nine seasons. That would match the Detroit Red Wings for the most titles since the Edmonton Oilers won four straight in the 1980s.

"But it's the toughest (win) to get," Pandolfo said. "So close and yet so far away."

The Devils can raise the Cup by winning Game 6 Saturday night in Anaheim, where the Ducks won two games in overtime to even the series.

The only players working overtime Thursday were the goalies, Brodeur (20 saves on 23 shots) and Jean-Sebastien Giguere (31 saves on 37 shots). Giguere hadn't allowed more than three goals in any playoff game this spring, including seven overtime games.

"This goalie's been unbelievable for them. Hopefully, we got to his confidence a little bit," Pandolfo said. "We just seem to play well at home.

"Now we've got some confidence offensively maybe we can take to Anaheim."

At a glance

Thursday's Game 5

New Jersey 6, Anaheim 3

Devils lead series 3-2

Saturday's game

New Jersey at Anaheim, 8 p.m.