• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Devils search for offense against Rangers

Dec 27, 2008 - 11:34 AM New Jersey (19-11-3) at NY Rangers (22-12-3), 7:30 p.m. EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The New Jersey Devils look for a much-needed offensive boost when they visit the New York Rangers in a battle of Atlantic Division foes on Saturday.

Losers of consecutive games, the Devils are in danger of suffering their first three-game skid since losing four in a row from November 8-14 - a streak that began two games after goaltender Martin Brodeur went down with a torn distal biceps tendon.

Scott Clemmensen turned aside 17 shots, but the Devils were shut out for the second straight contest at home for the first time in franchise history in a 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday. On Tuesday, they suffered a 2-0 beating by the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins.

It also marked the first time New Jersey was blanked in back-to-back games since January 26-27, 2006, when it fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, respectively.

The Devils had been riding a 12-3-1 streak coming into the showdown, and Clemmensen lost for just the third time in regulation since taking over as the full-time starter in place of Brodeur.

New York is coming off its most deflating loss of the season. The Rangers squandered a four-goal lead and fell to the Washington Capitals, 5-4, in overtime on Tuesday.

The only other time the Rangers had lost at home after leading 4-0 was March 27, 1979.

Henrik Lundqvist allowed three or more goals for the fifth time in December. He had done so just five times total in the season's first two months.

The Rangers will try to avoid losing three straight contests for the first time this season.