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Devils soar past hapless Islanders

Jan 18, 2009 - 6:25 AM By Doug Mittler PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- Thanks to Scott Clemmensen, the New Jersey Devils are faring far better without their franchise goaltender than are the New York Islanders.

Clemmensen stopped 32 shots and All-Star Zach Parise recorded a goal and an assist as the Devils extended their winning streak to three games Saturday with a 3-1 victory over the struggling Islanders.

Travis Zajac and David Clarkson also scored for New Jersey, which improved to 4-1-0 on its six-game road trip.

"I was pleased with the win," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "Anytime we come on the road like this, we need to move forward, like we have been. We're 4-1 on this road trip. I think we played well."

"This is the best game I've played in the last two weeks," Clemmensen added. "We can handle what teams throw at us. For the most part, we have smart players that can adjust and adapt."

Blake Comeau netted the lone goal for the Islanders, who have lost seven in a row and 19 of 21. New York, which fell to 1-10-2 against Atlantic Division opponents, has scored just once in each of its last three contests.

"Not many teams can afford to not play for two periods like we did tonight," Islanders coach Scott Gordon said. "We're in that category that we can't afford to do that."

The 31-year-old Clemmensen has seen the bulk of the playing time for the Devils since future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur went down with a biceps injury in early November. Clemmensen, who improved to 17-9-1 this season, won his second straight start after a personal three-game losing streak.

"Our goaltending has bee good," Sutter said. "I've said that all along."

Third-string netminder Yann Danis stopped 33 shots in his third straight appearance for the Islanders (12-29-4), who own the worst record in the NHL and have not won since topping the Florida Panthers on December 31.

Franchise goalie Rick DiPietro remains sidelined with a knee injury that has limited him to five games this season, and backup Joey MacDonald is out two to four weeks with a groin injury. Danis is likely to see more playing time thanks to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who claimed Wade Dubielewicz off waivers earlier Saturday.

New York had signed Dubielewicz on Thursday after the 29-year-old left the team following the 2007-08 season to play in Russia.

The Devils took advantage of a glaring mistake by Danis early in the first period to take a 1-0 lead.

During a power play for the Islanders, Parise stole the puck from Danis behind the net and missed on a wraparound attempt. But the puck went right to Zajac, who easily deposited it into the vacant net from the slot at 6:06 to extend his goal-scoring streak to three games.

"We put the pressure on them and the rebound came right to me," Zajac said.

"I went out to get the puck, and it was spinning and I couldn't stop it," Danis said. "I just ran out of time to make a play. Obviously, it's not the type of goal you want to give up when you have a power play early in the game."

Zajac nearly netted another shorthander less than three minutes later, but Danis made a fantastic glove save on his breakaway attempt.

The Devils capitalized on a boarding penalty to Nate Thompson early in the middle session, as Parise buried a rebound from the right side just 57 seconds into the period for his team-leading 26th tally.

"I think it was a little shot-pass (by captain Jamie Langenbrunner)," Parise said. "I don't know if he was going for Travis there. I think it hit Danis' pad and went right to me. I had an open net. You always like getting those."

Clarkson made it 3-0, firing a slap shot from the right faceoff circle past Danis at 4:58 of the second.

Comeau spoiled Clemmensen's shutout bid with 9:25 remaining in the third by converting a rebound chance from the bottom of the left circle.