Final
Devils edge Pens
Apr 26, 2013 - 6:57 AM Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Ilya Kovalchuk scored the game-winning goal with 6:10 left as the New Jersey Devils edged the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-2, on Thursday.Travis Zajac and David Clarkson also scored for the Devils, winners in four of their last five contests. Johan Hedberg made 16 saves in the win.
"I don't think they were that desperate tonight. They were trying, but they weren't on top of their game," Kovalchuk said. "Still, we worked hard, and it was a good game overall."
Matt Cooke and Jussi Jokinen both tallied for the Penguins, who have already secured the top seed in the upcoming Eastern Conference playoffs. Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 stops in the loss.
Cooke scored 8:52 into the first period to give the Penguins a 1-0 edge. Hedberg stoned a Brenden Morrow shot from the left circle, and turned away Cooke's initial try on a rebound, but Cooke was able to get his second attempt to light the lamp.
Jokinen's tally with 5:59 left in the middle session put Pittsburgh up by two, but the Devils would counter with three unanswered goals.
Zajac beat Fleury with a snap shot in front with 1:27 left in the second. Patrik Elias found Zajac in the left circle. Zajac then skated to the middle of the ice before firing his seventh goal of the season.
Clarkson's power-play goal tied the game just over three minutes into the final frame.
On a 3-on-2 fastbreak, Steve Sullivan found Kovalchuk streaking down the right side. Kovalchuk took the pass and ripped a wrister past Fleury for the game- winner.
"We have to start playing now. How we're playing now is going to determine how we're playing in the playoffs," Penguins center Brandon Sutter said.
Game Notes
Elias had two assists to push his total for the season to 22 ... The Devils have missed the playoffs twice over the past three seasons ... The Penguins will close the season against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
- PITTSBURGH: 2
NEW JERSEY: 3
Final
Apr 25 10:01 PM - New Jersey Goal - Andrei Loktionov (9), from Ilya Kovalchuk and Steve Sullivan at 13:50.
Penguins 2, Devils 3 3rd - 6:10Apr 25 9:48 PM - New Jersey Power-Play Goal - David Clarkson (15), from Travis Zajac at 3:01.
Penguins 2, Devils 2 3rd - 16:59Apr 25 9:27 PM - PITTSBURGH: 2
NEW JERSEY: 1
End of 2nd
Apr 25 9:05 PM - New Jersey Goal - Travis Zajac (7), from Patrik Elias at 18:33.
Penguins 2, Devils 1 2nd - 1:27Apr 25 9:02 PM - Pittsburgh Power-Play Goal - Jussi Jokinen (11), at 14:01.
Penguins 2, Devils 0 2nd - 5:59Apr 25 8:54 PM - PITTSBURGH: 1
NEW JERSEY: 0
End of 1st
Apr 25 8:11 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
NEW JERSEY: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Apr 25 7:40 PM
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