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Brodeur's fourth shutout of season leads NJ over Pens

Jan 21, 2011 - 5:16 AM Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Martin Brodeur turned away 23 shots as New Jersey continued its best stretch of the season with a 2-0 victory over Pittsburgh at Prudential Center.

Brian Rolston and Nick Palmieri potted first-period goals for the Devils, who are 4-0-1 over their last five games.

"It's great, you can't ask for much more against a team like Pittsburgh," said Palmieri about the victory. "They're a good team and we knew that going in. We just stuck to our game plan and played well as a team."

Brodeur recorded his fourth shutout of the season and 114th of his career, the most of any goaltender in NHL history.

Brent Johnson stopped 18 shots for the Penguins, who had a three-game win streak snapped.

Pittsburgh played without center Sidney Crosby for a seventh straight game (3-3-1) as well as Evgeni Malkin, who sat out with a lower-body injury.

Rolston took a drop pass from Patrik Elias and ripped a slap shot past Johnson from the top of the left circle just 82 seconds into the game to get the scoring started.

Palmieri intercepted a pass behind the Penguins net and came around the left side of the net to tuck a backhander between the legs of Johnson to give the hosts a 2-0 edge slightly less than 10 minutes into the contest.

Brodeur denied six shots in the first period, seven more in the middle stanza and 10 over the final 20 minutes to give the Devils their first win in three tries against Pittsburgh this season.

"They slow the game down and that is not our style," Pittsburgh center Jordan Staal said. "We want to play high-tempo and up-and-down hockey. The way they clogged up the middle and took away our speed through the neutral zone makes it real frustrating for our team."

Game Notes

Brodeur posted his eighth shutout of the Penguins, the second most of any netminder against them. Bernie Parent blanked Pittsburgh 10 times during his Hall of Fame career...Brodeur posted his 41st win in 73 career matchups versus the Pens...Pittsburgh killed off all four New Jersey power plays and has now successfully fended off 21 short-handed situations in a row on the road...The Pens are 10-3-2 in their last 15 away from home.