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Rejuvenated Devils continue road trip against Ducks

Jan 11, 2009 - 2:34 PM New Jersey (24-14-3) at Anaheim (21-17-5), 8:00 p.m. EST

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Though the New Jersey Devils reportedly attracted a veteran free agent to rejuvenate their club, perhaps beginning a season-high, six-game road trip on a good note was enough to do just that.

One day after agreeing to a contract with left wing Brendan Shanahan, the Devils will look for their second straight victory as they continue their road swing against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.

Coming off an embarrassing 4-0 loss to the lowly Atlanta Thrashers, the Devils on Saturday used a pair of milestones to get back to their winning ways. Brian Rolston scored in his 1,000th game and All-Star Zach Parise netted his 100th career goal to help the Devils vanquish the Los Angeles Kings, 5-1.

Starting in place of Scott Clemmensen for the first time in 15 games, Kevin Weekes turned aside 34 shots.

But no such performance generated as much buzz as the signing of Shanahan, who will start skating in New Jersey on Saturday despite not yet having agreed to terms on a contract. The details will be worked out over the next few days, according to TSN of Canada.

Shanahan, who was drafted second overall by the Devils in 1987, spent the previous two seasons with the New York Rangers but was not offered a contract in the offseason.

The Ducks have also become a team in much need of a boost. They have dropped two games in a row and quietly created a goaltending soap opera in which backup Jonas Hiller has cut into the time of struggling starter Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who was still named to the Western Conference All-Star team despite battling inconsistency.

One night after relieving Giguere in a 4-3 loss to the Kings, Hiller on Friday fizzled against the lowly Tampa Bay Lightning in a setback of the same score.

Giguere, who claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2003 while being a part of the Ducks team that fell the Devils in the seventh game of the Stanley Cup, is 11-9-4 with a 2.99 goals-against average in 27 games. Hiller is 10-8-1 with a 2.20 GAA in 21 contests.