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Clemmensen, Devils look to clamp down on Sharks

Feb 15, 2009 - 8:22 AM San Jose (37-7-9) at New Jersey (36-17-3), 3:00 pm EST

NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) -- New Jersey Devils fans are hardly praying for the return of future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur - thanks to the spectacular play of Scott Clemmensen.

Clemmensen will attempt to build off consecutive shutouts as the Devils seek their fourth consecutive victory Sunday, hosting the San Jose Sharks.

The 31-year-old Clemmensen will enter this contest with a scoreless streak of more than 146 minutes. Following a 27-save performance in Monday's 3-0 blanking of the New York Rangers, Clemmensen turned aside 31 shots during a 1-0 victory over the Boston Bruins on Friday.

Clemmensen, who improved to 24-11-1 with a 2.23 goals-against average on the season, became the first goaltender to post back-to-back shutouts for the Devils since Brodeur accomplished the feat from November 26-28, 2006.

While the Devils are surging behind Clemmensen, the Sharks are trying to hold onto the top spot in the Western Conference.

San Jose has lost five of its previous six contests, but still managed to pick up six points over that stretch with four setbacks past regulation.

The Sharks are coming off a 6-5 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames on Friday.

The game will mark a reunion of sorts as 43-year-old Claude Lemieux faces New Jersey, the team with which he won two Stanley Cups.

"I'm looking forward to seeing all the guys I played with (on the Devils' roster)," said Lemieux, who is in the midst of a comeback after a five-year retirement. "There are still a few around. Marty (Brodeur) won't be back yet, but I look forward to playing them. I still feel very strongly about the time I lived in New Jersey and I still have a lot of respect for Lou (Lamoriello). It's funny how it worked out. I get to play in all the cities I played in: Dallas, Montreal, Phoenix, Colorado, New Jersey."