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Pens, Devils clash in New Jersey

Mar 4, 2011 - 3:56 PM (Sports Network) - The Penguins are starting to find things tighter in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Though they still have a ways to go, the Devils are determined to force their way into that mix.

New Jersey takes aim at its 11th victory in 12 games and a second straight over Sidney Crosby-less Pittsburgh this evening at the Prudential Center.

The Devils continued their improbable surge on Wednesday, besting the Lightning 2-1 behind Ilya Kovalchuk's game-winning goal. Henrik Tallinder also scored and Martin Brodeur came up with 15 saves for the Devils, who improved to 18-2-2 since Jan. 9 and are 10 points out of a playoff spot with 19 games to go.

"We just have to keep working hard out there," said Kovalchuk. "We had to make some adjustments but we outplayed them and I think we deserved those two points."

Kovalchuk has certainly made some adjustments after an early-season struggle. The winger has eight goals and eight assists over his last 14 games, notching five game-winning tallies in New Jersey's past 11 contests.

Brodeur made his second straight start in what has been his first action since Feb. 6 due to a knee injury and eventual hot streak by fellow netminder Johan Hedberg, who had a personal seven-game win streak end with a loss to the Lightning on Feb. 25.

Brodeur has been red-hot versus the Penguins as of late, going 8-2-0 in his past 10 against them with a 1.39 goals-against average and three shutouts. He has also limited Pittsburgh to a pair of goals or less in nine of those contests, including a 23-save shutout in the last meeting on Jan. 20.

New Jersey had lost its last two versus Pittsburgh after taking all six meetings last year, but took advantage of the Penguins being without Crosby (concussion) and Evgeni Malkin, who is out for the season with a knee injury.

Pittsburgh has also lost six of its last eight in New Jersey and faces a Devils team tonight that has won five straight as the host. New Jersey is 9-0-1 in its last 10 at the Prudential Center and hasn't lost there in regulation since Jan. 6.

The Penguins, meanwhile, have lost five of their last six (1-2-3) and now lead the Capitals by just a point for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference. They also trail the Flyers by five for first place in the Atlantic Division.

Pittsburgh fell to 1-1-1 on a five-game road trip with Wednesday's 3-2 overtime loss in Toronto. It was the Penguins' first game since a 6-5 shootout win at Toronto on Saturday.

Playing in his fourth game since being acquired from Dallas, defenseman Matt Niskanen scored and set up Chris Conner's tally for his first two points in a Penguins uniform.

"Nice to get some production, but that's a tough one to give up," Niskanen said. "That game was there for the taking for us."

Marc-Andre Fleury allowed all three goals on 20 shots for the Penguins, who did get both Paul Martin, a former Devil, and Tyler Kennedy back into the lineup from injury.

Fleury snapped a personal five-game slide to the Devils with a win on Dec. 6. He had posted a 4.52 GAA over the skid and is 9-15-4 with a 2.75 GAA versus them lifetime.