Game 7: Pittsburgh wins at New Jersey, 4-2. The Pittsburgh victory in seven games over New Jersey followed a pattern identical to Pittsburgh's win in the 1991 NHL best-of-7 Prelim round series vs. the Devils: LWWLLWW. The only difference between the 1991 and 1999 results is that Pittsburgh did not have home ice advantage this year. Pittsburgh is now 4-0 in seventh games in NHL best-of-7 Prelim round play. The New Jersey record in such seventh games falls to 1-3.

Game 6: Pittsburgh wins vs. New Jersey, 3-2. Twice before has New Jersey opened a best-of-7 series WLLWWL. In each case, the Devils lost Games 7 and the series. One of those series was a Prelim round series vs. Pittsburgh in 1991. In neither case did the Devils have the home-ice advantage that they have this year. Once before has Pittsburgh opened with a loss, two wins, two losses, and a win: That was against New Jersey in the aforementioned Prelim round series in 1991. With its loss, New Jersey sees its best-of-7 Prelim round road Game 6 record fall to an NHL-worst 0-4.

Game 5: New Jersey wins vs. Pittsburgh, 4-3. Twice before has New Jersey opened a best-of-7 series with a win, two losses, and two wins. In each case, the Devils lost Games 6 and 7 and the series. One of those series was a Prelim round series vs. Pittsburgh in 1991. In neither case did the Devils have the home-ice advantage that they have this year. Once before has Pittsburgh opened with a loss, two wins, and two losses: That was against New Jersey in the aforementioned Prelim round series in 1991.

Game 4: New Jersey wins at Pittsburgh, 4-2. Twice before has New Jersey opened a best-of-7 series with a win, two losses, and a win. In each case, the Devils won Game 5, then lost Games 6 and 7 and the series. One of those series was a Prelim round series vs. Pittsburgh in 1991. In neither case did the Devils have the home-ice advantage that they have this year. Twice before has Pittsburgh opened with a loss, two wins, and a loss; their series record in these cases is 1-1. Pittsburgh had the home ice advantage in both cases.

Game 3: Pittsburgh wins vs. New Jersey, 4-2. In the 1991 NHL best-of-7 Conference Quarterfinals (Division Semifinals), New Jersey also won Game 1 but lost Games 2 and 3 vs. Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh won that series in seven games. This year, however, New Jersey holds the home ice advantage, whereas Pittsburgh held it in 1991.

Game 2: Pittsburgh wins at New Jersey, 4-1. Once before did New Jersey win Game 1 and lose Game 2 at home in a best-of-7 series: It was in the 1997 Conference Semifinals, which the Devils lost in five games. Pittsburgh has never lost Game 1 and won Game 2 on road ice in a best-of-7 series before now.

Game 1: New Jersey wins vs. Pittsburgh, 3-1. Eight times before in NHL best-of-7 preliminary round action has the home team won Game 1 3-1. The series record of those teams is 5-3. The win for New Jersey is its 28th in NHL best-of-7 Preliminary round action (Pittsburgh has 29 Prelim wins). Pittsburgh falls to 0-3 in Preliminary round 1st games played on the road -- a tie for NHL- lowest best-of-7 Preliminary round Game 1 winning percentage.

Pre-series history. In NHL best-of-7 Preliminary round action, the New Jersey Devils' series record is 4-5 and the Pittsburgh Penguins' series record is 6-3; New Jersey's game record is 27-27 (50.00%) and Pittsburgh's game record is 29-24 (54.72%) through 1998.

New Jersey finished 15 points (7.5 games) ahead of Pittsburgh in the 1998-99 NHL regular season.

In previous NHL best-of-7 Preliminary round action, the team with the 7.5-game lead has a series record of 4-1 through 1998.

In previous best-of-7 action in all NHL playoff rounds, the team with the 7.5-game lead has a series record of 14-3 (82.35%) through 1998.

In previous best-of-7 action in all NHL, NBA, and MLB playoff rounds, the team with the 7.5-game lead has a series record of 14-4 (77.78%) through 1998.