gusman
11-02-2010, 05:36 AM
from nhl.com
The New Jersey Devils' losing ways continued in a big way on Monday night.
John MacLean's club was shut out for the first time this season as Roberto Luongo made 30 saves in a 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.
With the loss, New Jersey -- which hadn't been shut out since March 10 against Boston -- fell to 3-9-1 just hours after learning that Zach Parise will undergo surgery on his right knee. The last-place Devils, who have already lost 56 man games to injury, have also been outscored 42-20. Their 20 goals is the lowest through 13 games in franchise history.
"Not scoring hurts us more than anything," MacLean said. "We need to score. We're not scoring. That's a tough way to win hockey games."
Raffi Torres and Ryan Kesler staked Vancouver to a two-goal lead early in the second period, and that was more than enough against a Devils' team that has scored two or fewer goals in six consecutive games.
Luongo got a break in the second period when it was ruled that David Clarkson interfered with the goaltender, penalizing the forward and waving off a goal. Luongo also was fortunate when Matt Taormina hit the post late in the second, but made a nice glove save on Ilya Kovalchuk early in the third for his first shutout of the season, and 52nd of his career, second to Martin Brodeur (112) among all active goalies. Kovalchuk has been held without a point in four straight games.
"It's frustrating," Clarkson said. "It's not the way you want things to go. We've got to get back to playing our game. If we don't, then we're in trouble. We've got to play the way that this team's played for a long time."
Torres opened the scoring with 6:41 left in the first after Taormina, one of three rookies of the injury-riddled Devils defense, coughed up the puck behind his own net. Manny Malhotra pounced on it and fed Torres in front of the net for a quick shot over the right shoulder of Brodeur.
Kesler made it 2-0 on a rebound shortly after killing off a second straight power play early in the second period. New Jersey finished 0-for-2 with the man advantage and is last in the League with just three goals on 41 chances.
"It was good to get the win," Kesler said. "Obviously we didn't have our A-game the first couple of periods, but good teams and great teams find a way to win, even when you get a little relaxed in your own zone. We gave up a lot of scoring chances, but at the same time, Lou was there to stand on his hand.”
Henrik Sedin rounded out the scoring when he beat Brodeur on a penalty shot with 6:17 remaining in regulation. It was the reigning Hart Trophy winner's first goal of the season. Vancouver improved to 5-0-1 on home ice.
"It's about the two points," Luongo said. "At the end of the day, we wanted to make sure we played the right way and get the 'W' and we did that."
New Jersey's six-game road trip -- which has produced one victory -- concludes on Wednesday night at Chicago.
"We're getting the effort, but we need more of an effort," MacLean said. "We need to find something. It's got to come from within that room. We all see the situation and the desperation we have to play with. We've got to regroup and get ready for Chicago."
The New Jersey Devils' losing ways continued in a big way on Monday night.
John MacLean's club was shut out for the first time this season as Roberto Luongo made 30 saves in a 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.
With the loss, New Jersey -- which hadn't been shut out since March 10 against Boston -- fell to 3-9-1 just hours after learning that Zach Parise will undergo surgery on his right knee. The last-place Devils, who have already lost 56 man games to injury, have also been outscored 42-20. Their 20 goals is the lowest through 13 games in franchise history.
"Not scoring hurts us more than anything," MacLean said. "We need to score. We're not scoring. That's a tough way to win hockey games."
Raffi Torres and Ryan Kesler staked Vancouver to a two-goal lead early in the second period, and that was more than enough against a Devils' team that has scored two or fewer goals in six consecutive games.
Luongo got a break in the second period when it was ruled that David Clarkson interfered with the goaltender, penalizing the forward and waving off a goal. Luongo also was fortunate when Matt Taormina hit the post late in the second, but made a nice glove save on Ilya Kovalchuk early in the third for his first shutout of the season, and 52nd of his career, second to Martin Brodeur (112) among all active goalies. Kovalchuk has been held without a point in four straight games.
"It's frustrating," Clarkson said. "It's not the way you want things to go. We've got to get back to playing our game. If we don't, then we're in trouble. We've got to play the way that this team's played for a long time."
Torres opened the scoring with 6:41 left in the first after Taormina, one of three rookies of the injury-riddled Devils defense, coughed up the puck behind his own net. Manny Malhotra pounced on it and fed Torres in front of the net for a quick shot over the right shoulder of Brodeur.
Kesler made it 2-0 on a rebound shortly after killing off a second straight power play early in the second period. New Jersey finished 0-for-2 with the man advantage and is last in the League with just three goals on 41 chances.
"It was good to get the win," Kesler said. "Obviously we didn't have our A-game the first couple of periods, but good teams and great teams find a way to win, even when you get a little relaxed in your own zone. We gave up a lot of scoring chances, but at the same time, Lou was there to stand on his hand.”
Henrik Sedin rounded out the scoring when he beat Brodeur on a penalty shot with 6:17 remaining in regulation. It was the reigning Hart Trophy winner's first goal of the season. Vancouver improved to 5-0-1 on home ice.
"It's about the two points," Luongo said. "At the end of the day, we wanted to make sure we played the right way and get the 'W' and we did that."
New Jersey's six-game road trip -- which has produced one victory -- concludes on Wednesday night at Chicago.
"We're getting the effort, but we need more of an effort," MacLean said. "We need to find something. It's got to come from within that room. We all see the situation and the desperation we have to play with. We've got to regroup and get ready for Chicago."