Home » Sports » Ice Hockey
Devils close gap on Penguins
Source: Agencies |
March 17, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
NOW that the New Jersey Devils are making a push back to the top of the Atlantic Division they can stop peeking at the standings.
Coach Jacques Lemaire mentioned his club's placement before a key matchup with the playoff-hopeful Boston Bruins, and the Devils responded with a 3-2 victory Monday night in Newark, New Jersey. New Jersey climbed within two points of division-leading Pittsburgh and will host the first-place Penguins tonight - five days after the Devils beat them at home.
"You always look at the standings when your team is not winning," Lemaire said. "When you're winning, you don't have to."
Following a 3-7-1 slump that dropped the Devils into second place, New Jersey has rallied to win three of four - including three straight at home, where the Devils will play four of five.
The Devils improved to 3-0 against Boston, the eighth-place team in the Eastern Conference.
"That team was desperate. They have to win games, too," Lemaire said.
Elsewhere, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-3 and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Calgary Flames 2-1.
In Newark, David Clarkson had a goal and an assist as the Devils scored three times in the first period against Tim Thomas.
Clarkson took the shot that Rob Niedermayer tipped in and then scored on a breakaway - set up by goalie Martin Brodeur - to make in 2-0. Zach Parise finished the barrage that assured the Devils (41-24-3) their 18th straight .500 or better season.
Patrice Bergeron of the Bruins made it 3-2 with 1:03 left after goalie Tuukka Rask was pulled for an extra skater.
"Obviously, these points are huge," Bergeron said. "We can't let them slip like that."
After a sloppy first 10 minutes that featured several turnovers and multiple stoppages, the Devils dominated the final half of the period and stormed to a 3-0 lead.
In Columbus, Ohio, Antoine Vermette had two assists and scored the clinching empty-netter, while Kristian Huselius added a goal and three assists for Columbus.
Jake Voracek, Chris Clark and Marc Methot also scored for the Blue Jackets.
It was a wild game full of odd-man rushes. That wasn't a surprise, since the two teams rank near the bottom of the NHL in goals allowed.
Robert Nilsson and Aaron Johnson each had a goal and an assist and Dustin Penner also scored for the Oilers.
In Calgary, Tomas Holmstrom scored with 1:19 left in the third period to lift Detroit past the hosts.
The Red Wings extended their lead to three points ahead of the Flames for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Coach Jacques Lemaire mentioned his club's placement before a key matchup with the playoff-hopeful Boston Bruins, and the Devils responded with a 3-2 victory Monday night in Newark, New Jersey. New Jersey climbed within two points of division-leading Pittsburgh and will host the first-place Penguins tonight - five days after the Devils beat them at home.
"You always look at the standings when your team is not winning," Lemaire said. "When you're winning, you don't have to."
Following a 3-7-1 slump that dropped the Devils into second place, New Jersey has rallied to win three of four - including three straight at home, where the Devils will play four of five.
The Devils improved to 3-0 against Boston, the eighth-place team in the Eastern Conference.
"That team was desperate. They have to win games, too," Lemaire said.
Elsewhere, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-3 and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Calgary Flames 2-1.
In Newark, David Clarkson had a goal and an assist as the Devils scored three times in the first period against Tim Thomas.
Clarkson took the shot that Rob Niedermayer tipped in and then scored on a breakaway - set up by goalie Martin Brodeur - to make in 2-0. Zach Parise finished the barrage that assured the Devils (41-24-3) their 18th straight .500 or better season.
Patrice Bergeron of the Bruins made it 3-2 with 1:03 left after goalie Tuukka Rask was pulled for an extra skater.
"Obviously, these points are huge," Bergeron said. "We can't let them slip like that."
After a sloppy first 10 minutes that featured several turnovers and multiple stoppages, the Devils dominated the final half of the period and stormed to a 3-0 lead.
In Columbus, Ohio, Antoine Vermette had two assists and scored the clinching empty-netter, while Kristian Huselius added a goal and three assists for Columbus.
Jake Voracek, Chris Clark and Marc Methot also scored for the Blue Jackets.
It was a wild game full of odd-man rushes. That wasn't a surprise, since the two teams rank near the bottom of the NHL in goals allowed.
Robert Nilsson and Aaron Johnson each had a goal and an assist and Dustin Penner also scored for the Oilers.
In Calgary, Tomas Holmstrom scored with 1:19 left in the third period to lift Detroit past the hosts.
The Red Wings extended their lead to three points ahead of the Flames for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
