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Clemmensen, Devils look to bounce back against Penguins

Dec 26, 2008 - 11:27 AM Pittsburgh (18-12-4) at New Jersey (19-10-3), 7:00 p.m. EST

NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Goaltender Scott Clemmensen and the New Jersey Devils were rolling until they faced an Eastern Conference heavyweight.

Looking to bounce back from being shut out for the first time since November 3, the Devils on Friday face another potent conference foe, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

New Jersey failed to extend its winning streak to three games in a 2-0 loss to the surging Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

Clemmensen stopped 22 shots for the Devils, who had been nearly as hot, riding a 12-2-1 streak into the showdown. He lost for just the second time in regulation since taking over as the full-time starter in place of the injured Martin Brodeur.

Pittsburgh was blanked for the first time this season in a 2-0 loss to the lowly Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, in the midst of trying to find a way to end its struggles in December.

Evgeni Malkin and captain Sidney Crosby have been clicking on all cylinders - ranking first and second, respectively, in the NHL in points - but the Penguins are 4-6-1 this month.

Malkin saw his streak of games with at least one point and at least one assist come to an end at nine. His assist streak was the second-longest in the league this season - Malkin had at least an assist in 13 consecutive games from October 16-November 15.

Netminder Marc-Andre Fleury, who made his fourth consecutive start since returning from a groin injury, made 27 saves against the Lightning.