DUCKS HAVING DEVIL OF A TIME ANAHEIM HASN'T WON IN N.J. SINCE '95.

Byline: Brice Nixon Staff Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - New Jersey coach Pat Burns did his best Sunday to convince anyone who would listen that he and his Devils think tonight's Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals is up for grabs.

``It's down to the last game,'' Burns said. ``I don't believe that the home-ice advantage factor comes into play a whole lot in Game 7.''

But the reality is every game in the series has been won by the home team, and the Ducks' 5-2 victory Saturday, while uplifting for the Ducks, doesn't change the fact they are 1-10 in New Jersey since 1993, winning 4-2 in 1995. Or that the Devils have tied an NHL record with 11 playoff victories at home. Or that the home team has won the seventh game nine of the 11 times the Stanley Cup was stretched to the maximum.

Although the Ducks know they can beat the Devils, soundly, they also know they have not done it away from the Pond. The easy victory in Game 6 on Saturday did a lot to boost their confidence and Ducks coach Mike Babcock said he doesn't have to convince his players they can win at Continental Airlines Arena.

``We wouldn't have won Game 6 if we didn't think we were going to win here. Why would you bother with the flight?

``I really believe that it doesn't matter where you play or who you play. It's about how you play. Let's worry about ourselves.''

The Ducks did that on the road in the first three rounds, when they were the best road team in the playoffs.

``We played well on the road throughout the whole playoffs with the exception of the games here,'' Ducks captain Paul Kariya said.

The Ducks were 6-1 on the road before the Finals started. Now they have one chance to find a way to win in New Jersey. The Ducks' Game 6 victory might have given them a slight edge in momentum, but both teams have thought the same the previous times they've left their home ice after winning.

``It seems like home ice is the momentum in this series,'' Devils captain Scott Stevens said.

Which puts it back in the Devils' hands. But they thought they would carry it from a 6-3 victory in Game 5 to a Cup-clinching victory at the Pond on Saturday.

``One day you think you're in full control and the next day it's the end of the world,'' Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said. ``You have to really keep your head clear and know that this is playoff hockey and you have to be able to deal with these mood swings as good as you can.

``This is the last one. We won't have to deal with any mood swings after that.''

Brice Nixon, [phone]

brice.nixon(at)sgvn.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, drawing

Photo:

Coach Mike Babcock and the Ducks watch the final moments of their last game in New Jersey, a 6-3 loss in Game 5.

Paul Chiasson/Associated Press

Drawing:

(cover -- color) 7TH HEAVEN

The Ducks attempt to become perhaps the unlikeliest of champions when they play the New Jersey Devils tonight in the deciding game of the Stanley Cup finals

Jorge Irribarren/Staff Artist