• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Clemmensen picks up first win as Devils edge Capitals

Feb 25, 2007 - 11:50 PM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The New Jersey Devils exacted a measure of revenge against the Washington Capitals, and they didn't even need Martin Brodeur.

Scott Clemmensen made 23 saves to record his first win this season as the Devils held on for a 3-2 triumph over the Capitals in the finale of a home-and-home series.

It was the fourth victory in the last five games for New Jersey, which dropped a 4-2 decision to Washington at Continental Airlines Arena on Saturday.

"Sometimes playing back-to-backs are tough, especially when you're playing at one o'clock," said New Jersey center Zach Parise, who had a goal and an assist. "Those are kind of hard, especially after getting beat and the way they played against us yesterday. They played us tough."

A two-time Vezina Trophy winner, Brodeur struggled in that contest, stopping 26 shots. The All-Star goaltender was given the day off Sunday, ending his streak of 32 consecutive starts.

"It's a confidence thing and a feeling of comfort," Clemmensen said. "If you don't think you can go to your backup goalie, that's a bad situation, and I don't want to be in that."

"In the last couple of weeks, we've pushed (Clemmensen)," Devils coach Claude Julien added. "We've been working with him to make sure he's as sharp as possible. There's no doubt we'll need him down the stretch."

The Devils did not miss a beat thanks to Brodeur's understudy, who made his first start since December 14. The 29-year-old Clemmensen had not recorded a win since March 24 against Boston and had appeared in just four games since.

"The season is so long, and this is only my third start," Clemmensen said. "So I thought I had to give the coaches something, I felt like."

Jamie Langenbrunner scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and added an assist while defenseman Brian Rafalski set up a pair of tallies for New Jersey, which finished 3-1-0 this season against Washington.

"You don't want to get swept on a weekend series," Langenbrunner said. "To get two points on the road, it was a big win for us."

With the victory, the Devils (39-18-6) climbed within three points of the idle Buffalo Sabres (41-16-5) for first place in the Eastern Conference.

The Capitals forged a 2-2 tie at 9:13 of the third period, when All-Star Alex Ovechkin scored his team-leading 35th goal.

The reigning Calder Trophy winner, Ovechkin carried the puck into the left faceoff circle before snapping a shot past Clemmensen, ending his five-game goalless drought.

But New Jersey reclaimed the lead just 51 seconds later as Langenbrunner blasted a slap shot from the slot past netminder Brent Johnson during a power play for his 20th tally.

"A power-play rebound came out, and I got about a quarter of the puck," Langenbrunner said.

"It was deflating," Johnson said. "It was a game that was there for us. You know it was a tight game. Games against New Jersey are tight."

Johnson made 26 saves for Washington, which has lost six of its last seven contests.

"Overall, we played fairly patient hockey for six periods against most likely the most patient, sound defensive team," Washington coach Glen Hanlon said. "So six pretty good periods and it came down to one shot."