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Parise scores twice to hand Devils second straight win

Dec 31, 2008 - 4:52 AM ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Zach Parise scored two goals and continued his torrid play as the New Jersey Devils won their second straight game with a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.

Parise now has 41 points in his last 31 games, and has scored in 17 of those. Coming off a breakout 32-goal and 65-point campaign in 2007-08, the 24-year-old has 21 goals and 23 assists, placing him fifth in the NHL in points.

"We had to find a way to win," Parise said. "It wasn't a work of art by any means, but we played well."

Brian Rolston and Jay Pandolfo also tallied and Scott Clemmensen made 28 saves to help the Devils improve to 14-4-1 in their past 19 games.

Brad Boyes and David Backes each recorded a first-period goal and Alex Steen added another with 28 seconds left in the contest, but the Blues were unable to avoid their fourth loss in five games.

"We failed to get the job done," Blues coach Andy Murray said. "To sit where we're sitting right now and to continuously not find a way doesn't sit well."

After Parise opened the scoring 62 seconds into the contest, Boyes recorded his team-leading 18th goal of the season and Backes followed 3 1/2 minutes later to give St. Louis a 2-1 lead.

"That was a nice way to get the game started," Parise said. "Those are nice ones to get. You feel like you have your legs right away."

Rolston tallied for the second consecutive contest to pull New Jersey even 2:37 into the following session.

With the help of Clemmensen, the Devils held off several scoring chances from the Blues, who held a 20-16 shots advantage through the first 40 minutes of play. Parise then took care of the rest.

"It was a tough road win," Clemmensen said. "It wasn't the prettiest win for us, but we got the win nonetheless. You take them any way you can get them."

The rising star gave New Jersey a lead it would not relinquish by converting passes from captain Jamie Langenbrunner and defenseman Bryce Salvador - a former Blues player - and lifting a backhander over the shoulder of Manny Legace from in front of the net with 5:41 left in the game.

"We need to find a way to win," Murray said. "How many games have we lost in the last five minutes of the hockey game?"

Pandolfo provided his insurance goal just over two minutes later by deflecting Mike Rupp's initial attempt while positioned on the doorstep.

"We worked hard, but I don't think we worked smart," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "I don't think it was one of our sharpest games mentally, but we found a way to win. The team we played worked hard and we knew that."

Legace finished with 22 saves.

"It's frustrating, very frustrating," Legace said. "We're playing great hockey. It just seems like it's one mistake and the puck is in our net. We're playing well, it's just really weird. I'm a karma-type guy and it's going to switch. Things happen for a reason."