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Defensive miscue helps Devils best Flames

Dec 24, 2007 - 4:37 AM CALGARY, Alberta (Ticker) -- In a matchup between two of the National Hockey League's top goaltenders, a defensive miscue opened the door for the New Jersey Devils.

Patrik Elias scored the game-winner just 25 seconds into overtime off a turnover as the Devils posted a 1-0 victory over the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

Martin Brodeur stopped all 30 shots to record his third shutout of the season and 95th of his career. He stopped 11 in the first, four in the second, six in the third and one in overtime.

"The one shot on Iggy (Jarome Iginla) in the second was a tough one," Brodeur said. "The shot seemed to come from nowhere. I think he didn't get all of it and I got over there just in time."

Meanwhile, Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 21 shots, but there was nothing he could do about the last one.

"Well, certainly we had opportunities," Calgary coach Mike Keenan said. "But he (Brodeur) kept them in the game. Both goalies were good, but we gave them an opportunity to capitalize on in overtime and they took full advantage."

Calgary's Craig Conroy coughed up the puck in the Devils' zone and Elias fed Brian Gionta to start a 2-on-1 rush.

"You would like to see your players shot in that situation," Keenan said. "Especially with Alex (Tanguay) right in front of the net."

Gionta skated down the right side and sent a pass to Elias just ahead of a diving defenseman. Elias then one-timed a shot past Kiprusoff for the game-winner.

Brodeur and Kiprusoff have each won the Vezina Trophy in the past two seasons, and showed why as the teams battled to a scoreless tie in regulation.

"It's always tough knowing the other guy is one of the top guys. You know he's not going to give up anything," Brodeur said. "It's always a challenge playing against top players whether they're goalies or not."

Brodeur, who is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, stopped 14 shots in the second period.

Kiprusoff, who won the award in 2005-06, stopped 11 in the first but ultimately was done in by his own defense.