Devils Get Well Against Panthers

by: Melinda Quasius | Special to NY Sports Day | Friday, November 21, 2008



NEWARK, NJ – Mom has always said rest is the best cure for what ails you. And the four days without games earlier this week has supplied just that for the mash unit known as the New Jersey Devils.

With the services of Paul Martin, Brian Gionta and Bryce Salvador available again within the last week, New Jersey was able to put together a convincing 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers Thursday night.

Only three points separated the Devils, eighth in the conference, from the Panthers who are sitting at 14th in the Eastern.

The Devils played a solid first period, putting a lot of pressure on Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun. Vokoun faced 12 shots in the period and stopped them all.

Florida’s goaltender is used to seeing a lot of activity in front of him: Vokoun faced 49 shots against Tampa Bay in the team’s last outing.

On the opposite end, New Jersey net-minder Scott Clemmensen calmly dismissed all of Florida’s attempts to score in the first period, although he did not face a shot until half way through the session.

Once again, the Devils’ power play did not score in its two chances, making the special teams 1-17 in the last six games. But head coach Brent Sutter was pleased with the unit’s effort.

“Our power play has been decent the last three games. Tonight, we didn’t score, but we had some chances,” Sutter said of the six power play shots on goal.

Florida also had some chances on the Devils’ power play. Stephen Weiss and Brett McClean were able break down the left side of the ice short handed. Weiss dropped the puck for McClean, who put the puck on net, but Clemmensen had the glove ready for it.

Roles reversed in the second period, when Florida out-shot the Devils 10-1.

“We knew we were getting out-competed in the second, and hemmed in our own end,” said Gionta.

But New Jersey made the most of its one good shot attempt in the period.

At 6:47, Dainius Zubrus dug the puck out of the boards behind Vokoun, and slid the puck over to Gionta. Gionta passed it on to Patrick Elias, who skated directly up to the net, made a move to the left and buried the puck in the net.

Florida stopped the hearts of many of the fans in the Prudential Center when a puck slid through the crease behind Clemmensen, and Clemmensen kicked the puck barely out of harms way.

“The puck was off to my left, and I thought the guy as going to shoot it,” Clemmensen said of the back door pass. “You got to be lucky.”

New Jersey kept the 1-0 lead heading into the locker room, despite the inability to replicate their first period effort.

“I thought we had a very good first period, lost it in the second , and got it back in the third,” said Sutter.

Zach Parise started the third period with energy for the Devils. Parise took a wide-open slap shot from the right circle just over a minute into the period. Vokoun was able to make the save, but the opportunity awakened the home crowd and the home team.

David Clarkson grabbed the puck along the left boards, and found an open Martin at the point 5:49 into the period. Martin faked a shot, forcing his defender to the ice, slid around him and fired a shot that went over Vokoun’s head, hit the crossbar and dropped in the goal.

The goal was Martin’s first of the season, and his first goal since February. The defenseman, playing in his second game since coming back from an upper body injury, was on ice for 24:23, second only to another recently healed defenseman, Salvador (25:04).

“(Martin) is a top two or three guy on our team when he’s playing well,” Sutter said. “(He) plays under control and with poise. That’s why he plays the minutes he does.”

Clarkson and John Madden were credited with assists on the goal.

Still riding high from Martin’s goal, the Zubrus-Gionta-Elias line was not done for the evening.

At 6:51, Elias climbed off the bench right into the middle of a give and go play with Gionta. Gionta had brought the puck in between the circles, and passed it off to Elias on his left. Elias gave it right back as Gionta crashed the net.

Vokoun slid over to defend against a shot from Elias, and Gionta dumped the puck into the open net.

Zubrus was also credited with an assist, giving all three members of the line two points for the game. Elias has earned six points in the last three games, including four goals.

“Brian’s been playing well for a period of time and not being rewarded. Now he’s being rewarded,” said Sutter. “That line’s being a factor, and tonight I thought all three played a great game.”

As the Devils spaced themselves further out from the Panthers, no longer was the prevailing thought “win,” but “shutout.”

“You don’t think about it until late in the game,” said Clemmensen. “You start to clock watch a little.”

But the Panthers went on a power play when Elias was called for high sticking at 7:30 into the session. Florida up-and-coming center Michael Frolik put a one-timer from the blue line over Clemmensen’s shoulder and in. The goal is Frolik’s first of the season and first of his career.

Despite losing the shutout bid, Clemmensen did stop 18 of 19 shots, including some very good opportunities for the Panthers.

“Our goalie played very well. Big saves at key times, that’s what you want from your goalie,” said Sutter.

With playing time on the line, this was Clemmensen’s second victory in a row.

“He was very poised and challenged shooters well. He doesn’t overreact,” said Sutter.

“I know I have an opportunity here and I want to go for it. Playing a lot last year and playing for Lowell, I’ve gotten into a groove,” said Clemmensen.

Clemmensen and Kevin Weekes are vying for time in the net, replacing Marin Brodeur for the next few months.

The next challenge for the Devils comes Friday night at home against the New York Islanders. The Atlantic Division rivalry caps the Devils fifth back-to-back series of the season. Puck drops at the Prudential Center at 7 p.m.