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Langenbrunner scores twice as Devils top Senators

Jan 28, 2009 - 5:26 AM OTTAWA (Ticker) -- The New Jersey Devils picked up right where they left off prior to the All-Star break.

Captain Jamie Langenbrunner scored a pair of goals as the Devils continued to roll with a 4-1 triumph over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

Patrik Elias and Brendan Shanahan also tallied and Travis Zajac notched two assists for New Jersey, which has won six in a row and seven of eight.

"We've got to keep going here. Nobody is patting us on our back," Devils coach Brent Sutter said.

Scott Clemmensen made 21 saves in improving to 20-9-1 for the Devils, who also extended their road winning streak to five games. Filling in for the injured Martin Brodeur, the 31-year-old Clemmensen's previous career high in victories was three.

"I don't think many people would have thought he would get 20 wins in the NHL this year," Langenbrunner said. "It's been great to see because he has been fantastic. With Marty going down, there were a lot of questions, and those two guys (Clemmensen and Kevin Weekes) have really answered the bell."

Alexandre Picard netted the lone goal for Ottawa, which fell to 3-1-1 in its last five.

"In the third period, we lost every battle," Senators coach Craig Hartsburg said. "You talk about inconsistency in our game, that's usually where it starts. Can't blame the goaltending for this one tonight."

The Devils, who won both of their previous meetings with the Senators this season, got things started early in this one.

After banking the puck off the right wing boards and past a defender, Brian Gionta chased it down in the faceoff circle and fired a shot toward the net. Standing in the crease, Elias had the puck carom off his right skate and past rookie goaltender Brian Elliott at 4:54 of the first period.

Following a brief video review, Elias was credited with his 21st goal of the season.

Ottawa pulled even midway through the second, as captain Daniel Alfredsson made a cross-ice pass from along the left wing boards to Picard, who fired the puck past Clemmensen at 10:54.

But Langenbrunner, who still is searching for his first career hat trick, took over to guide New Jersey to victory.

"We were in the game halfway through the second, but when they got that goal in the third, they took over," Ottawa's Mike Fisher said. "We want to have a good start, feel like we can come back in it, but we just kind of waited on our chances and they forced us into mistakes."

After defenseman Johnny Oduya's slap shot from the left point deflected off Zajac and wide of the net, Langenbrunner gained possession on the right side and banked the puck off Elliott with 5:41 remaining in the second for a 2-1 edge.

Just 19 seconds after the opening faceoff in the third, Langenbrunner received a pass from behind the net by All-Star Zach Parise and beat Elliott from the bottom of the left circle, completing his first two-goal performance of the season and 17th career.

"Anytime you can score in the first minute of a period is always big because it puts you up by two," Sutter said. "We're a confident team when we're in a position like that."

"Obviously, the two-goal lead is a huge advantage," Langenbrunner said. "They have some firepower and some talented guys, so shutting them down was huge."

Playing in his third game since signing with New Jersey earlier this month, Shanahan capped the scoring by snapping the puck past Elliott from the right circle with 8:43 left for his second tally of the campaign.

"We started out really playing our game," Shanahan said. "We got into some penalty problems, but overall, 5-on-5, we deserved the win. Coming out of the All-Star break, this is a good win for us."

Elliott turned aside 23 shots.