Struggling Crosby, Pens host Devils
Last Updated: Thursday, November 12, 2009 | 11:14 AM ET
The Associated Press
Sidney Crosby hasn't been in the best mood of late, with the Penguins shut out the last two games. (Winslow Townson/Associated Press)The New Jersey Devils are looking to take a step closer to matching the longest road winning streak to open an NHL season. The Pittsburgh Penguins, meanwhile, are trying to end a scoreless drought that is threatening to become a franchise first.
The Devils seek their ninth straight road win Thursday night when they visit the Penguins, who hope to avoid being blanked in three consecutive games for the first time since joining the league in 1967.
New Jersey's 8-0 road record is the second-best to start a season, with Buffalo winning 10 straight in 2006-07.
One of New Jersey's victories during its run came Oct. 24 in Pittsburgh. Martin Brodeur carried a shutout midway through the third period, and Zach Parise had a goal and assist in the 4-1 victory.
Brodeur still needs one shutout to match Terry Sawchuk's NHL record of 103. He's now gone seven games without a shutout, with a career average of one nearly every 10 games.
The Montreal native has three shutouts among 21 career wins in Pittsburgh.
Parise leads the Devils with eight goals and 11 assists. Not surprisingly, he's been New Jersey's best offensive threat away from home, with five goals and six assists in eight games.
The pair helped lead New Jersey to its sixth straight win, 3-1 over Anaheim on Wednesday. Martin Brodeur stopped 31 shots, and Parise assisted on Jamie Langenbrunner's goal 38 seconds into the contest before scoring short-handed with 13 seconds remaining in the second period.
That surge has moved New Jersey (12-4-0) into a tie with Pittsburgh (12-6-0) for the Atlantic Division lead.
The Penguins followed Saturday's 5-0 loss to San Jose with a 3-0 defeat to Boston on Tuesday. Pittsburgh hasn't scored in 149 minutes, nine seconds and has dropped three straight on the road after a 7-0 start.
"We've got to find a way to score some goals," said captain Sidney Crosby, who has gone a career-high five consecutive games without a point. "That's the way it's been going the last week or two for us. It's been a long road trip, longer when you don't win. We've got to find a way to play better."
Pittsburgh scoreless since Oct. 28
Crosby has scored 10 of 16 points this season at Mellon Arena and has fared well there recently against New Jersey, with four goals and three assists in a three-game run.
Crosby's drought, though, isn't the only reason for the club's woes. Pittsburgh has gone scoreless in 23 straight chances with the man advantage since Oct. 28.
Should Marc-André Fleury start in goal for the Penguins, he'll try to avoid losing four straight starts for the first time since Dec. 27-Jan. 5 of last season.
Fleury is 2-5-0 with a 3.17 average his last seven starts after eight straight wins. The recent span has raised his average to a still respectable 2.49.
Both clubs are dealing with injury issues.
Brian Rolston of the Devils missed Wednesday's game with an undisclosed ailment and joined Rob Niedermayer (upper body), Johnny Oduya (lower body), Paul Martin (broken forearm), Jay Pandolfo (shoulder) and Dean McAmmond (undisclosed illness) on the sidelines.
"I guess we're getting used to it," Langenbrunner said. "We're not the only team in the league that has to deal with it."
For Pittsburgh, star Evgeni Malkin (shoulder) hasn't played since Oct. 29 and is expected to miss at least another week. Sergei Gonchar (broken wrist) likely won't be back until December and Kris Letang (shoulder) and Tyler Kennedy (undisclosed) are also out.
The Penguins also lost one of their most physical players Tuesday as Brooks Orpik left in the first period with an undisclosed injury and is day-to-day.
