NHL Game Summary - New Jersey at Pittsburgh
(Sunday, February 10th)
Final Score: New Jersey 3, Pittsburgh 1
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - David Clarkson scored a pair of goals on
Sunday, as the New Jersey Devils completed a sweep of a home-and-home
series against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 3-1 triumph at CONSOL Energy
Center.
Ilya Kovalchuk also lit the lamp, while Johan Hedberg turned away 23-of-24
shots to help the Devils earn their fifth consecutive victory.
"It was a real gutsy effort," Devils coach Peter DeBoer said. "We had to dig
deep. We didn't have a lot juice left in the tank and we found a way."
James Neal scored the lone goal for Pittsburgh, which had won five straight
before dropping a 3-1 decision on Saturday in Newark.
Tomas Vokoun allowed all three goals on 23 shots in the setback.
New Jersey struck first late in the opening stanza when Clarkson charged down
the right wing and made his way into the slot before slipping a quick shot
past the glove-side of Vokoun for a 1-0 lead at the 13:06 mark.
"The first goal I would like to have back," Vokoun said. "It's tough for
goalies when you don't get shots."
A pair of goals just under two minutes apart in the second stanza provided the
Devils with a 3-0 cushion.
Kovalchuk started the rally at the 11:27 mark when he corralled a loose puck
at the red line and raced in on a 2-on-1 before ripping a snap shot from the
left circle that slipped through the five-hole of Vokoun.
After Neal was whistled for cross-checking under a minute later, Clarkson
camped out in front and pounded home a rebound off a Patrik Elias' blast to
make it 3-0 with 6:40 left in the second.
A slashing penalty against New Jersey's Stephen Gionta late in the second
helped Pittsburgh break through just 15 seconds into the third.
Evgeni Malkin received a long feed at the New Jersey blue line and made a nice
pass to Chris Kunitz in the slot. Kunitz then one-touched the puck to the
right circle for Neal, who one-timed a blast past Hedberg to bring the
Penguins within 3-1.
Hedberg would hold firm from there, however, stopping the final eight shots he
faced to send the Devils to victory.
Game Notes
New Jersey now owns a three-point lead over Pittsburgh atop the Atlantic
Division ... Pittsburgh fell to 2-3-0 at home, while New Jersey improved to
3-1-2 on the road ... New Jersey finished 1-for-1 on the power play ...
Pittsburgh went 1-for-3 on the man advantage.
02/10 23:34:20 ET
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