Stanley Cup Finals: 5 Players Responsible for the Devils' Trip to the Cup Finals

The No. 6 seed New Jersey Devils' improbable run to the Stanley Cup Finals has been a sight to see in this year's playoffs, and it wouldn't have been possible without some key players.

It started with a grueling, seven-game series against the Florida Panthers sealed by overtime winner and rookie Adam Henrique. He has come into his own as a NHL player and a clutch performer during the Devils' playoff run.

After taking care of business against a pesky Panthers squad, they turned around to face the evenly-matched but heavily-favored Philadelphia Flyers in the second round. Despite much star power on the Flyers' roster, the Devils prevailed to win a five-game series that looked to be over as soon as it started.

Martin Brodeur's re-emergence as a top goaltending threat in the NHL has also been a key component to the Devils' run. He's just four wins away from lifting his fourth Stanley Cup, and the ageless wonder has defied all of us yet again in what has been an incredible display of goaltending in these playoffs.

Let's take a look at New Jersey's biggest performances from their squad in their Stanley Cup Finals run. 

Adam Henrique

Whether they win the Cup or not, the 22-year-old rookie has cemented himself as a key component of this New Jersey Devils team for the foreseeable future.

Henrique has done it all for his Devils team. Two of his three goals in these playoffs have come as overtime series winners—one in a Game 7 against the Panthers that had the Devils just a goal away from elimination. 

His scrap with Ryan McDonagh in Game 4 of the Rangers series set the tone for an all but must-win game. McDonagh, New York's biggest presence in terms of defensive stoppage and ice time, didn't want to drop the gloves, but Henrique insisted and his punches might have made a difference in New Jersey's offensive efficiency for that game.

Henrique has been massive, not only in terms of clutch goals and fighting, but also in giving momentum to a series that didn't have many young stars making a difference.

Ilya Kovalchuk

Ilya Kovalchuk's postseason play in 2012 has solidified his place as one of the NHL's best players, and proved to the world that he's worth the ridiculous amount of money that New Jersey spent on him (and when I say ridiculous, I mean ridiculous). 

He possesses the puck for what seems like all of New Jersey's power play, which has been more than 10 percent above their Stanley Cup Finals opponent, Los Angeles. His ability to change the game with one flick of the wrist is unrivaled among the players still left standing in the playoffs, and is among the world's best. 

Kovalchuk has more points than anyone in these playoffs, which only speaks greater volumes about his impact.

The Russian talent's ability to change every game he plays in makes him New Jersey's biggest threat, and without him, they don't have their usual postseasons without his greatness.

Martin Brodeur

Martin Brodeur, the ageless wonder, is still making it happen at 40 years old, and has overtaken Quick as the most influential goaltender in this year's NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

His Stanley Cup experience has paid dividends for the New Jersey Devils team, who have had to rely on stellar play between the pipes from Brodeur. He's delivered, with breathtaking saves that will make you wonder how a man with so many miles can still play at his prime.

Devils coach Peter DeBoer said that Brodeur is "arguably the best goalie of all time", and why should we doubt him? He's won three Stanley Cups, is only four wins away from his fourth, and has more wins than any other goaltender in NHL history.

I'd say that's the resume of the best goalie ever. A fourth Stanley Cup would prove it all to be true.

Bryce Salvador

Salvador's emergence as the Devils' best defensive player in these playoffs has been one of the most quiet stories around New Jersey.

His offensive numbers may have made the difference in New Jersey's unlikely run to the Cup Finals. He's notched a plus-10 rating, best on his Eastern Conference Champion team, and falls in a tie for fourth place in points with 11 (three goals, eight assists).

His two-assist performance in Game 2 helped the Devils to tie the series in a pivotal game that could've had them facing a 2-0 hole early in the series.

Travis Zajac

Travis Zajac's contributions to the Devils' playoff run has been unlikely in that his 2011-12 season was hampered by injury—allowing him to play in just 15 games and notch just six points. But his time off might have been the turning point in his season.

Zajac has gained the confidence of DeBoer and his staff, as he's seen nearly as much ice time as stars Kovalchuk and Parise. He doubled his regular season point total in this playoff run, and seems hungry for more as he comes in at third on the team in goals.