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Rafalski, Devils complete sweep of Canadiens

Feb 15, 2007 - 9:10 AM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Defenseman Brian Rafalski's rare accomplishment gave the New Jersey Devils a season sweep.

Rafalski scored two goals for just the second time in his seven-year career to lead the Devils to a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

New Jersey improved to 5-1-0 in its last six games and completed a season sweep of the Canadiens. The Devils, who outscored the Canadiens, 12-4, this season, have defeated Montreal seven straight times.

"We really took over the game in the third period," New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur said. "Some of the little things we didn't do right at the end of the second, we wanted to correct. We went out there and did it."

The Canadiens are 1-6-1 in their last eight games, and have scored just 21 goals.

"We're struggling," Montreal defenseman Sheldon Souray said. "We're trying to stay positive and we're trying to say the right things, but the longer this goes and the longer you go without getting points, it adds to the frustration. We just got to keep going."

Rafalski's first goal tied the game, 1-1, at 2:05 of the first period on a 5-on-3 power play. His slap shot from the left point sailed past goaltender Cristobal Huet.

His second goal gave the Devils a 3-1 advantage at 13:11 of the second period on a 5-on-3 advantage when his shot from the slot beat Huet. Rafalski's only previous two-goal game came on October 17, 2001, in a 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers.

"The first one was a good screen by Gio (Brian Gionta) and the second one, that was a good scramble, and I just had luck," Rafalski said.

"We can't give a team like that two 5-on-3s, especially with the problems that we have," Montreal coach Guy Carbonneau said.

Rafalski entered with one goal in his last 19 games. His last tally came in a 2-0 victory over the New York Islanders on December 30.

Huet left the game after Rafalski's second goal with a strained left hamstring. He made 17 saves. David Aebischer came in and and made 19 saves.

Sergei Brylin, Zach Parise and Patrik Elias scored for New Jersey while Brodeur made 19 saves.

Brodeur improved to 19-2-4 in his last 25 games against Montreal.

Souray and Sergei Samsonov tallied for Montreal, which went 0-for-2 on the power play. New Jersey was 3-for-7.

"It's something we needed," Parise said of the power-play tallies. "It seems like we go on cold streaks, and then we blow up for three in a game. Hopefully we can get that going."

Samsonov scored his second goal in his last 25 games at 17:10 of the second period when his slap shot from the right faceoff circle skipped over Brodeur's left pad.

New Jersey's Erik Rasmussen was denied on a penalty shot at 16:48 of the third period.

"I did what I wanted to," Rasmussen said. "I wanted to fake and get him (Aebischer) down and I accomplished that. But I think I kind of froze at the last second."