Game 9: Devils vs. Penguins

Just over a week ago, the Devils went into Madison Square Garden to take on the 7-1 Rangers who were riding a 7 game winning streak.

When they left, the only streak that remained intact was their own winning streak away from the friendly confines of the Prudential Center.

Saturday night felt like déjà vu as they took the ice against the Penguins who were also on a bit of a roll, winners of eight straight, while the Devils' own streak was still progressing.

Unlike the game at MSG, though, the Devils left little room for doubt as to who's streak would roll on.

A fluky first period goal by Mark Fraser, the first of his career, set the tone early as the Devils rolled to a 4-1 victory.

Riding the momentum of some stellar saves by Brodeur, the Devils forced the play deep into the Penguins zone. Zubrus drew players to him before passing the puck behind the net to Bergfors, who made a quick feed to Fraser who got off an awkward one timer, the puck hit goalkeeper Marc Andre Fleury’s stick and popped up over his head. Fortunately for the Devils, as he went to catch it, the puck hit the heel of his trapper and went into the net.

Brodeur continued to mystify the Penguins offense in the 2nd with save after save including one from his backside while on the penalty kill.

On the flipside of the ice, Fleury’s luck continued to elude him. While on the power play, the Devils’ second unit broke through and finally got a marker. Bergfors took a quick shot through traffic which Fleury stopped, and he got most of the rebound chance from Rod Pelly but not all of it as the puck sneaked through his legs, towards the far side post. Bergfors, who followed his shot with a wrap around attack, saw the rebound and pushed it with Fleury’s glove into the net for the 2-0 lead.

Brooks Orpik’s aggression cost Pittsburgh a goal as he threw David Clarkson on top of MAF, Zajac had picked up Parise’s rebound and went top shelf over the dog pile in front.

Alex Goligoski, who was beyond sanctified by Pittsburgh’s announcers for one “hustle” play that turned into their highlight of the year, broke Brodeur’s bid for his record tying shutout almost midway through the 3rd.

Parise put the final nail in the coffin with a beautiful stick handling move in front of the net where he found himself wide open and skated around Fleury for the goal.

The road doesn’t get any easier as next up for the Devils are the Buffalo Sabres, and its at the Prudential Center, where the Devils have been surprisingly inconsistent to start the year.



6-3-0, 12 points

Next up: vs. Buffalo, 7 pm