• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Clemmensen blanks Bruins for second straight shutout

Feb 14, 2009 - 5:06 AM NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) -- While injured goaltender Martin Brodeur continues to get healthier, Scott Clemmensen grows stronger. It is a quandary in which the New Jersey Devils are happy to be.

Clemmensen made 31 saves en route to his second straight shutout and defenseman Bryce Salvador scored in the second period as the Devils extended their winning streak to three games with a 1-0 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins on Friday.

The 31-year-old Clemmensen turned aside 10 shots in the first period, 13 in the second and eight in the third to secure his second blanking of the season and fourth career.

"Mentally, for a goalie, it's easier when the game's tight like this," Clemmensen said. "Next thing you know, you win the game, 1-0. It's a good problem to have when we have a big lead. I'm definitely not going to say we should try and win all these games 1-0, that's for sure."

By shutting down the New York Rangers in a 3-0 win on Monday, Clemmensen posted his first shutout in 58 games dating to March 26, 2004.

All-Star Tim Thomas made 17 saves for the Bruins, who have dropped three in a row (0-2-1) for just the second time this season.

"The way we showed up today is the way we've got to play, it's the way we're going to win, that's the way we've been winning games," Boston's Patrice Bergeron said. "We have to do the same things and have a better finish."

After tearing a distal biceps tendon in a 6-1 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on November 1, Brodeur has been on the shelf. Clemmensen valiantly has picked up the workload of his four-time Vezina Trophy-winning teammate.

"It's taken me so long, it's been so hard to get here, that I'm not going to take any game for granted or any situation for granted," Clemmensen said.

Brodeur worked out with the Devils for 20 minutes during Friday's morning skate and will participate in their next practice over the weekend.

Although the nine-time All-Star is aiming to come back in time to face Colorado on February 26, New Jersey will not confirm his exact date of return. Either way, Clemmensen will remain as a vital contributor for the Devils, who are second in the East with 75 points.

With his sparkling effort in this one, Clemmensen improved to 24-11-1 this season after registering just eight victories over his previous five campaigns. Meanwhile, New Jersey improved to 2-1-0 against Boston this season.

"Going into the game tonight, we knew it was going to be a tight game," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "And that's what it was. I think the guys were all aware of where Boston is in the standings and where we are in the standings.

"Tonight, it was like playoff hockey. All three games between the Bruins and ourselves have been very tight, playoff-type games."

Clemmensen became the first goaltender to post back-to-back shutouts for the Devils since Brodeur accomplished the feat from November 26-28, 2006.

"There's been so much focus on one guy," Sutter said of Brodeur's high-profile absence. "And I'm not neglecting that whatsoever, and I respect that because of his stature. I think there hasn't been enough credit given to other individuals and to the rest of the team.

"Everyone knows you have to have goaltending to be successful, and Marty is what he is. He is the best goaltender to play the game, as far as I'm concerned. Our goaltending has been rock solid. But you need a good team in front of your goaltender. It goes hand in hand."

Salvador gave Clemmensen all the help he needed with 9:06 remaining in the second session, firing a slap shot from the slot past Thomas after John Madden won a faceoff and slid the puck toward the blue-liner.

"It looked like we planned it, but we didn't," Madden said. "We were able to win a draw, Bryce put a shot on net that I'm sure Timmy Thomas would like to have back. But it found its way in, and that was the difference.

"We used all four lines, and that's what you have to do against that team. They use four lines and they come at you a couple of different ways, and we were able to match it."

Salvador, who tallied for the first time in 22 games, was happy to contribute offensively.

"Anytime you can help the team win by scoring a goal, it's nice," he said. "The more important thing is that the team played well. Clemmer was solid in net and gave us a chance to win and allowed the one goal to hold tonight."

The Bruins, who fell to 20-6-3 on the road, have gone 2-for-32 on the power play over their last eight contests.

"You always want to get to the net more, that's where the majority of chances come from," Boston rookie Blake Wheeler said. "I think we need to get to the net more. We were trying to tie it up there and force overtime, but their goalie played well."