New Jersey Devils' rise - USA TODAY

The New Jersey Devils have reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the fifth time. USA TODAY Sports NHL columnist Kevin Allen provides 10 reasons why the Devils have climbed from the No. 6 seed:

 

1. Lou is the glue: Lou Lamoriello, New Jersey's GM since 1987, has three championship rings and the Devils have missed the playoffs only twice under his command. Lamoriello keeps changing players and coaches, and the Devils keep winning.

2. Old man in the cage: At 40, Martin Brodeur has proved he can still be a difference-maker in New Jersey's net. His play in Game 6 was vintage Brodeur. There was wonder early in the playoffs if this might be his last run at the Stanley Cup. But if you can play well enough to lead a team to the championship series, why consider retirement?

3. There is an "O" in New Jersey: The Devils don't have to rely on defense and goaltending to win their games like Devils teams of old. They have been the best 5-on-5 team in the postseason and their power play has been dangerous. They are confident they can score goals. The Devils don't have to win games 1-0, or 2-1, although they can.

4. The Z machine: If the Devils win the Stanley Cup, center Travis Zajac is in the hunt for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. The new trend in hockey is to talk about playing hockey "the right way" and Zajac plays the game the right way. He can play offensively and defensively. He can win a big faceoff.

 

5. Kovy 2.0: Remember the old Ilya Kovalchuk who used to drive Atlanta Thrashers coaches crazy because he was so dynamic offensively and so irresponsible defensively? The upgraded Kovy package comes with a high compete level and strong forechecking ability. Adam Henrique's series-clinching goal was created by Kovalchuk's forecheck. On offense, Kovy is a breakaway waiting to happen.

 

6. Peter Principle: In his first year in New Jersey, coach Peter DeBoer transformed the Devils from a non-playoff team to a Stanley Cup finalist. What he has done mostly is restore confidence and keep everyone on course. The Devils seem to have found a balance between effective, team-oriented defense and opportunistic, aggressive offense.

7. The Boss: There is a reason why most NHL teams hope Zach Parise exercises his right to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He is the Devils' captain, and when the team is at its offensive best, Parise is usually at the heart. The Devils seized control of the Eastern Conference final in Games 4 and 5, and Parise had five points combined in those two games.

8: First-rate fourth line: The line of Ryan Carter, Stephen Gionta and Steven Bernier has contributed mightily. Carter had four regular-season goals but scored three in the six-game conference final. Gionta, 28, brother of Brian Gionta, has been an AHL player for six seasons, but chipped in three points over the past two games. Bernier. 27, with his fifth NHL team, has found his niche.

 

9. Underrated defense: This Devils team lacks a Scott Stevens or Scott Niedermayer but has been playing All-Star-caliber defense throughout the playoffs. Marek Zidlicky (pictured), Bryce Salvador and Andy Greene are the minutes leaders, and Mark Fayne is fourth defenseman. Anton Volchenkov and Peter Harrold play about 15 minutes each. This is a solid, dependable defense.

10. Bryce is right: Every year, there are players who seem to exceed the limits of their abilities in the postseason. Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador is the guy in 2012. He had no goals and nine points in 82 regular-season games and now he has three goals and 11 points in 18 postseason games. He's also leading the team with a plus-10 rating.