Devils near road streak record, beat Pens 4-1

By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports Writer Nov 12, 11:04 pm EST

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PITTSBURGH (AP)—The New Jersey Devils’ road winning streak keeps going on and on. Or exactly how an unaccustomed run of losing feels to the beaten-up Pittsburgh Penguins.

Niclas Bergfors had a goal and two assists and the Devils closed within a victory of tying the NHL record of 10 consecutive road victories to start a season, beating the slumping Penguins 4-1 on Thursday night.

Zach Parise(notes) added a goal and an assist, Travis Zajac(notes) had three assists and Martin Brodeur(notes) made 25 saves as New Jersey improved to 9-0 on the road. The Devils can tie the road streak record, set by Buffalo in 2006-07, Monday in Philadelphia.

“Honestly, I don’t even pay attention to that record,” said Bryce Salvador(notes), who had an assist. “We’re just really trying to be consistent. We’re hoping the road play starts rubbing off at home and we’ll start a good streak there, too.”

New Jersey, 4-4 at home, won its seventh in a row overall and, with 26 points, tied idle Washington for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby(notes) ended a career-worst five-game scoreless streak by assisting on Ruslan Fedotenko’s(notes) goal in the first period, but still had a frustrating night as the Stanley Cup champions lost their fourth in a row.

With the Penguins down 3-1 midway through the third, Crosby put a backhander off the left post and a wrist shot off the right post seconds apart during a failed power play—Pittsburgh’s 25th in a row. Crosby then trimmed a minute off the power play by taking a holding penalty.

“Two posts was not easy (to take) right now,” Crosby said. “It’s a matter of time. That’s how hockey works, it’s not always fair and it doesn’t always seem like it’s right. I thought there were some chances to be had and some goals to be had.”

Just not by the Penguins on the power play.

They haven’t scored with the man advantage since star Evgeni Malkin(notes) left the lineup Oct. 29 with a strained right shoulder, one of six injured players currently out of their lineup. Last season’s scoring champion took part in the morning skate and could return as early as Saturday against Boston.

New Jersey took a 2-1 lead late in the second after Pittsburgh’s Bill Guerin(notes) went off for interference. Andy Greene’s(notes) one-timer from the center point banked off Penguins rookie defenseman Ben Lovejoy(notes), who was called up from the minors earlier in the day, and eluded goalie Marc-Andre Fleury(notes). Zajac and Bergfors both assisted.

“We were fortunate to get out of the first period down one,” Zajac said. “I think Marty kept us in the game. We didn’t do a good job making plays, we turned the puck over a lot. That said, we got one on the power play and went from there.”

Fleury is 2-6 after beginning the season 8-0. He has lost four in a row for the first time since Dec. 27-Jan. 5, and the Penguins are 12-7 after starting 12-3.

“We got used to winning, so it’s frustrating to get those losses,” Fleury said.

The Penguins started the third period on the power play after Zajac drew a holding period to end the second but they couldn’t convert, and Parise scored his ninth of the season with 4:43 gone.

Pittsburgh’s Jay McKee(notes) couldn’t control the puck near mid-ice, allowing Zajac to hit Parise in stride as he skated in from the left circle. Parise has six goals and seven assists in nine road games, the kind of production that’s allowing New Jersey to withstand injuries to Rob Niedermayer(notes), Paul Martin(notes), Johnny Oduya(notes), Jay Pandolfo(notes) and Dean McAmmond(notes).

“I don’t know what it is, we’re just playing well,” Parise said.

The Penguins, who have never been shut out in three consecutive games, ended a scoreless streak of 160 minutes, 41 seconds when Fedotenko scored during a scramble in the crease at 11:32 of the first. Crosby started the play with a backhander from along the goal line. The Penguins’ scoreless streak record is 170 minutes, 27 seconds.

The Devils, who also won 4-1 in Pittsburgh on Oct. 24, tied it at 1 when Parise grabbed the puck during a scramble along the left wing boards and fed it to Bergfors in the slot for his fifth.

David Clarkson(notes) scored for the second night in a row, into an empty net with two seconds remaining.

NOTES: Penguins D Brooks Orpik(notes) is expected to be out for about two weeks with an undisclosed injury that occurred during a collision along the end boards with Bruins D Mark Stuart(notes) on Tuesday. … Brodeur remains one shutout away from tying Terry Sawchuk’s league record of 103. … Pittsburgh won its first seven on the road, only to drop the final three of a four-game trip that ended in Boston.

Updated Nov 12, 11:04 pm EST
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98 Comments

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  1. Kathy S
    98. Posted by Kathy S Sat Nov 14 3:07pm EST

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    Dutch--I totally agree with you about the starts and stops. It's a much more interesting game when it has flow and the refs let the players play. Same goes with football--as you said. It's just a blow when it gives the advantage to the other team, you know? Especially a SCF game 7. You look for anything to help out the team you are rooting for. In any case, even though I am a Wings fan, I hope that the Pens can end their streak tonight. It's quite disinhearting when your team is on a bad roll like that. On the other hand, I hope the Wings can keep their streak rolling.
  2. Dutch
    97. Posted by Dutch Sat Nov 14 2:25pm EST

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    @94 Kathy S. No need to apologize, if it was the other way around and there were Pens fans complaining about something like that, then sorry for them. I'll say for sure I would much prefer Refs wave off icings in such cases regardless of how things turn out. Nothing worse than watching a Hockey game that is constantly stopping and starting due to off-sides, icings etc.. Well a football game with a ton of penalty flags is worse but you get my point.
    @95 hockeyfan, Fair enough. You well know I HATE the flyers and no doubt you and many others posting here hate the Penguins, that's OK because it's better to have the enemy fans hate you than to be indifferent. Mediocre to bad teams are treated indifferently. A lot has been made of the fan support (or lack thereof) for the Pens in their dark years of 2002-2006 (4 long seasons) was it really the fans suddenly didn't care or was it fans saying, I'm not going to make the effort and dole out the money to watch a team that has Kris Beech and Rico Fata carrying the banner. Would you pay good money to watch AHL level talent? I'd watch them on TV and like the fact you could turn it off or go do something else. Additionally if you'd been watching the likes of Lemieux, Jagr, Kovalev, Lang, Straka then suddenly had to jettison all those guys (Lemieux out for different reasons) due to poor ownership, decrepit arena and a stupid league that didn't have any real TV revenue yet was allowing teams to behave like the new york fankees. I agree I wouldn't be too interested to go either! The Penguins situation was a lot like the current Islanders situation. That is a team that shouldn't move The Coyotes on the other hand... I used to feel bad for them but they've played well and still NOBODY is going to the games! It's ridiculous you draw 5500 fans for a Kings game and just north of 10K when Chicago shows up for one of its two meetings and half+ of the arena has an Indian Head Jersey on! If the Yotes were 3-15 I'd understand, they're good, they're on the ropes and still no one is coming. With all due respect to you loyal Yotes fans.
    Finally RE: the flyers, yes they have a good team, picking up Pronghorn was a great move, he has a couple of good seasons left in him. Emeryboard I'm not sold on and I like him not at all. He's a locker room liability and someone is going to push his buttons and he'll lose it. It's still early. I'd rather see a 4 game Pens losing streak in November than in May! Go Pens Go!
  3. Brian S
    96. Posted by Brian S Sat Nov 14 11:26am EST

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    Dutch.......Malkin is expected back tonite,so good news for you Pens fans. Are people realy still arguing goals from last years finals?
    UNLEASH THE FURY!!!!!
  4. hockeyfan00
    95. Posted by hockeyfan00 Sat Nov 14 10:27am EST

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    @Dutch- it's never personal with me. I like busting balls just liek you do. Fact is I'm not a "this is the year" in November kind of guy. I will say that if there was a year, this one is looking good at this early stage.

    Previous years, we didn't have a legitimate #1 goalie. This year, Emery holds the keys to the bus. If he keeps himself out of trouble and inside his own head, we have a shot. The depth is UNREAL.

    JVR, Giroux, Richards, Carter, Briere... I won't count on Gagne and his injuries.

    Defense is STACKED. Two of our starters are out and we're still winning.

    I like to bust on Pens fans because the VAST majority are frontrunners. Five years ago, you almost didn't have a team.

    You know the game, I'll give you that, but don't make excuses for the others who run their mouths and have no idea what they're talking about.

    I still say Malkin will be the better player over his career than Sid, but the NHL has adopted Sid as their face and there is no limit to the hype.

    Either way, it's too early to know how the finals will shape up but I'm glad your guys are struggling.
  5. Kathy S
    94. Posted by Kathy S Sat Nov 14 9:12am EST

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    Dutch--all I'm saying is if the reverse were true, and the Wings scored on that off sides, Pens fans would be crying up a storm. #61 brought up SCF goals, and I commented. Way to dish it out but not take it. Maybe you like the innane comments more than a logical, civil disagreement about hockey. By the way, I only brought up the gender issue because you sounded a bit patronizing. My apologies--sincerely.
  6. <i>undersuspicion426</i>
    93. Posted by undersuspicion426 Sat Nov 14 1:50am EST

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    I'd just like to make it a point that the Devils beat the Pens a couple weeks ago without their six injuries that have apparently hurt them so bad...
  7. James P
    92. Posted by James P Sat Nov 14 1:27am EST

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    Hey all you Penguin fans did you see where Alexander Ovechkin signed a huge contract with a BIG International Marketing company?? The same one Tiger Woods And Peyton Manning are with.

    Look for a lot of Ovie on your Televisions in the Pittsburgh AREA--You ll love him

    CINDY SUCKS--NO PERSONALTY AND HE'S BORING.
  8. <i>lfmingo23</i>
    91. Posted by lfmingo23 Fri Nov 13 9:01pm EST

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    Hey its a great start but there is no room for celebration yet since the devs have done nothing of significance since 2003. Keep pushing NJ and take it to the next level in the postseason Zach and the boys!!!!
  9. Brett W
    90. Posted by Brett W Fri Nov 13 8:48pm EST

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    "Luongo is a choke artist, he got his big paycheck and has gone Cristobal Huet on us."

    LOL so true.
  10. jacka$$-FINDER
    89. Posted by jacka$$-FINDER Fri Nov 13 5:49pm EST

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    ah and the good doctor fails again... true crosby's numbers weren't great in the SCF but last time i checked you need to win 16 games to get the cup. why dont we discuss the 1st 2 rds in which sid carried the team. and yes, if i was new coming in... i'd notice that Crosby led the league in playoff goal scoring and say 'this kid's pretty good'... jacka$$

    crosby wasn't great in the SCF fine, which shows what type of depth we had in our run last year.. hopefully that idiot Nacho Libre reads this post and rethinks his comment of '2nd rate players don't matter'....

    hhhhhmmmmmm
  11. Dutch
    88. Posted by Dutch Fri Nov 13 5:24pm EST

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    Come on Kathy let's not throw the "Gender Card" out there. Like many times in a game the Refs cleary waved off icing and Super Cuts Stuart knew it. He made a bad play and Malkin and Talbot made a good one. Period. @88 I think you're missing Boston and Chicago in the mix and there has to be 4 or 5 other teams not on that list that if they get hot at the right time could certainly make a run. I will go out on a limb and say that the Capitals will win the SE Conference and that they're the only team to get by round one much less make the Playoffs (which the Canes certainly don't appear to be on their way to, Atlanta maybe), also going to say no finalist from the Northwest division unless its Calgary, Luongo is a choke artist, he got his big paycheck and has gone Cristobal Huet on us. It's 19 games in, lot of Hockey to play, Malkin is a game time decision for Saturday, that could help get the Pens off the schnide.
  12. imoutofnames
    87. Posted by imoutofnames Fri Nov 13 4:34pm EST

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    ----To all people talking about the Flyers ----
    If Stevens can keep the Flyers playing all 60 minutes then people will stop calling for his head. Even after this 5 game streak I still don't think he is the right man for the job. I am impressed he is getting the team to play all 60 minutes and if he can keep them doing that all season then he might...and that is a big might, be the man for the job.

    ----For everyone to ponder ----
    Yes the pens are the defending champs but if you count the Flyers out you are delusional. It is too early to predict who will win the cup, we have to see how teams are playing and where they are at, at the end of the regular season. But from what i have seen so far I can safely give a few teams that will make it to the playoffs

    Pittsburgh (if Malkin stays healthy, he is the #1 player on the penguins, when he gets back, the penguins will become a contender again, and Fleury can play like he has been the past few post seasons)
    Flyers (If they continue to play all 60 minutes they have great potential. 4 great lines, excluding a few players i am unhappy with)
    Washington (as much as i dislike AO he carries his team quite a bit, but they don't have a terrible line up)
    Red Wings (They will start picking up, they have had a slow start, but no way do they NOT make the playoffs)
    Jersey (They are playing great, unfortunately)
    San Jose (Playing great)

    So i have 4 from the east, and 2 from the west that i am willing to bet on that will make the playoffs / cup finals. In the east I think Washington will fall short like they have been, it will come down to Penguins or Flyers representing the east. And for the west, if the Red Wings are healthy it will be them or San Jose if they continue to play like they are
  13. Kathy S
    86. Posted by Kathy S Fri Nov 13 4:30pm EST

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    Dutch--while I have been a fan of the Red Wings for more than 15 years, apparantly since I'm a woman I don't know what I'm talking about. I was watching the game with a hockey player, who had no regard for either team, tell me that the goal should have never been allowed because of the off sides. Yes, I may have forgotten the other incident, because the first goal stuck in my mind because it was so blatant and the comment by my friend. Guess it doesn't matter in this stage of the game--what's done is done, but people reap what they sow.
  14. Dutch
    85. Posted by Dutch Fri Nov 13 4:16pm EST

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    @85 Kathy S, I've responded to your insistence for an offsides call a number of times, I thought you were a fairly seasoned fan but if you're a newcomer welcome to the game of Hockey. Icing was waved off by the officials on the ice, CLEARLY due to it not being deemed an advantage to either side. If Brad "Super Cuts" Stuart had simply reversed the puck or played it along the boards rather than trying to be greedy and feed it up the center of the ice there would have been nothing ever mentioned about it. You've no doubt forgotten about the much more obvious icing on the Red Wings PP in the 3rd period...Why? BECAUSE THEY DIDN"T SCORE on it! You think Refs call Holding in Football every time there MAY be a hold? Of course not, unless they're PAC-10 refs. Ask Mike Illitch why he needs to sell 780,000 $5 Little Seizure Pizzas to cover Super Cuts paycheck!? You ask me, Delmore's better and he costs a whole hell of a lot fewer "pies"!
  15. Kathy S
    84. Posted by Kathy S Fri Nov 13 3:58pm EST

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    #61--you REALLY want to rehash SCF goals? Ok, let's talk about the first one the Pens scored--or should I say the "non-goal"? Any logical person with eyes could see that the play was off sides yet no whistle and they allowed the goal. I'm sure I'll a lot of flack for this post, but I know what I saw, and it was off sides. You all can justify it all you want, but it was a lousy oversight. Really doesn't matter, because you probably won't see the Pens in a repeat anyway.
  16. Andrew
    83. Posted by Andrew Fri Nov 13 3:03pm EST

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    I would say the pens played to good periods. I think the more you play a team you learn there weaknesses and i think this was a better game for the pens even though they lost. Marty needs to stay in the net quite playing the puck same for fleury. Every time fleury goes behind the net sometimes the puck gets deflected and then the other team gets a good scoring chance. Pens get the puck get it out you have to get the puck out of your zone otherwise it creates scoring chances for the opponent.
    They did the best they could except for the third period need to finish the game better.
    Next game will be a tough one.
  17. Andrew
    82. Posted by Andrew Fri Nov 13 3:03pm EST

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    I would say the pens played to good periods. I think the more you play a team you learn there weaknesses and i think this was a better game for the pens even though they lost. Marty needs to stay in the net quite playing the puck same for fleury. Every time fleury goes behind the net sometimes the puck gets deflected and then the other team gets a good scoring chance. Pens get the puck get it out you have to get the puck out of your zone otherwise it creates scoring chances for the opponent.
    They did the best they could except for the third period need to finish the game better.
    Next game will be a tough one.
  18. dropthegloves
    81. Posted by dropthegloves Fri Nov 13 2:59pm EST

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    Wow! Devils are 9-0 on the road! Almost every team have injuries. If Pens lost at home, they can't excuse themselves because E Malkin is out. Look at Red Wings. They have ton injuries. Their good players until near the end of the season. Like Johan Franzen, and J Williams. They still win roads and home games. Thrashers vs Kings tonight at Atlanta. Kings had a lot of success agains the Thrashers on the road and at home. Go Kings!
  19. Chiqis
    80. Posted by Chiqis Fri Nov 13 2:26pm EST

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    In my last sentence, I meant to type "perseverance". I certainly wouldn't want to be accused of not knowing how to spell.
  20. Chiqis
    79. Posted by Chiqis Fri Nov 13 2:17pm EST

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    Good to see a few Pens are getting some valuable experience. Only a matter of a relatively short period of time before the Pens are at "full strength". 6 key players out--that will hurt any team. But I won't be one to make excuses. However, non-Pens fans should realize that the same could happen to their team as well. On a lighter note, I can't wait till all the players return. Then what will everyone say when the wins start accumulating AGAIN with regularity.? It will of course be the same ole song and dance--the Pens will have targets on them, win or lose. Who cares? A full Pens squad shows perseverane, tenacity, and a "killer instinct" like no other. GO PENS!
  21. Dutch
    78. Posted by Dutch Fri Nov 13 2:00pm EST

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    @74 hockeyfan, How is being a fan of the DEFENDING STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS "living in the past". Last I checked the Penguins had hoisted the Cup THREE times in the past 18 years and the flyers zero times since Columbo was a Prime TV special! As a flyer fan you're going to try and claim that this isn't AT LEAST the 30th time in the past 35 seasons that you weren't crowing about how great the flyers were and this is their year? Give me a break. Sure Ray Emery is playing well and WOW the flyers are a 5 game tear, it's early, Ray-Ray has yet to have his inevitable meltdown, the flyers who had fans calling for John Stevens head 2 weeks ago, will be back at it the minute philly drops back to back games and they'll be squealing and crying as soon as the flyers are forced to make their customary April/May tee time. You'll see. I'll even try to be gracious enough to refrain from telling you I told you so! @ Brett W. Well gee seeing as how there hasn't been a repeat winner in 12 seasons you certainly could be a sage with your bold prediction. The Penguins are one of I'd say 10 teams that have a realistic chance to win the Cup, totally will depend on health of lineup and how teams are playing come March and April. We'll see. You clowns yuck it up, the Pens will be back in force. Soon!
  22. sizzle
    77. Posted by sizzle Fri Nov 13 1:49pm EST

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    I see you guys are still at it. Not that I'm surprised.

    It's actually quite hilarious to see how utterly consumed you guys are with the Pens. It makes you wonder if people's lives are really this affected by what the Pens do but then you realize that it honestly does really affect them when you see how often and how pathetically they act. Come on, there has to be something in your life to distract you from your Pens obsession.

    Oh well, keep it up. I need a good laugh every now and then. I just pray that the Pens don't repeat this year. I wouldn't want to see so many people taking the bridge.
  23. Dutch
    76. Posted by Dutch Fri Nov 13 1:48pm EST

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    Hey Matador, funny I'm actually baking some Crow to serve to some of you clowns once the Penguins get back on track. I hope you don't choke on the feathers! OK Doctor, you wouldn't take me up on the Delmore-Conner bet, which btw Conner seems to be winning by a nose, so how about this gentleman's bet. Crosby currently resides in 33rd on the scoring charts. I say he'll be at worst in the Top 10 (barring missing SIGNIFICANT playing time with injury) Savvy?
  24. DON_DOC_IN
    75. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Fri Nov 13 1:05pm EST

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    73.Easy there buddy........Sid is a lil young to be already looking back on his "career" or are you simply stating that he is on the downside of that career? I agree that he is one of the best. I'd say he is amongst the elite 15 players in the NHL. psssst.....I have watched him. I watched him be a minus 3 in the Cup Finals. His team did a great job in picking him up. Imagine being new to hockey(maybe you are?) and you see all the hype on NBC about Crosby. then you watch him be -3! You'd be scratching your head.....

    While I have you here, let's look back on the career of John Tavares. Remember the day that.............................................................................................................
  25. jacka$$-FINDER
    74. Posted by jacka$$-FINDER Fri Nov 13 1:04pm EST

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    hockeyfan00 - is it as nice as seeing the Pens dominate the Flyers during the John Stevens era? especially in the playoffs last 2 years which must have been very enjoyable for you...
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Three Stars

  Three Stars
N. Bergfors
 		Nicklas Bergfors
Devils - RW
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
T. Zajac
 		Travis Zajac
Devils - C
Goals: 0
Assists: 3
Z. Parise
 		Zach Parise
Devils - LW
Goals: 1
Assists: 1

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Marc-Andre Fleury Pit 24 21

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