Sens streak snapped in Jersey
Last Updated: Thursday, November 26, 2009 | 12:15 AM ET
By Chris Iorfida, CBC Sports
Patrik Elias's goal late in the second period held up as the winner as the New Jersey Devils skated to a 3-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night.
Ottawa made a spirited bid to tie the score in the third, but all doubt was ended by Jamie Langenbrunner's empty-net goal in the final minute.
Niclas Bergfors opened the scoring for New Jersey, a goal that was countered less than five minutes later by Milan Michalek of the Senators.
Martin Brodeur made 24 saves for the victory, with Senators netminder Brian Elliott finishing with 18 stops.
Ottawa (12-7-3) came in having won four consecutive games. The club returns to action at Scotiabank Place in Kanata, Ont., on Thursday against Columbus.
Elliott, thrust into the No. 1 goal after a freak injury to Pascal Leclaire earlier this week, passed early tests from New Jersey forwards Travis Zajac and Zach Parise.
Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson tried a deke on Brodeur, but the Devils goalie made a left pad save to keep the game scoreless.
Bergfors opened the scoring at 7:58 by pouncing on a puck that bounced off the glass and into the slot. The Swede reacted faster than Elliott, who attempted a poke check.
"It just seemed to work out for them, having it bounce off the glass like that and they have three guys in front," Elliott said. "It was a case of bad luck. I don't know if that was planned. It's something we'll learn from when we come back here."
Michalek ended any notion of a record night for Brodeur, by redirecting Jesse Winchester's shot between Brodeur's legs.
Michalek passed the idle Mike Fisher for the team lead with 10 goals. The Senators revealed earlier in the day that Fisher would be out due to an upper-body injury.
The score kept Brodeur stuck at 102 shutouts for a 13th straight game, one shy of tying the late Terry Sawchuk for the all-time record.
Brodeur has eight career shutouts against the Senators, tied with Montreal as the most among non-divisional opponents.
Veteran Brian Rolston had a prime opportunity on the doorstep for New Jersey late in the period, but Senators defender Matt Carkner helped prevent a clean shot.
Ottawa rearguard Brian Lee had a good scoring chance early in the second, but shot just wide of the left post.
Not long after Parise was unsuccessful in an attempt to beat Elliott to the short side, the Devils cycled the puck expertly to regain the lead.
Langenbrunner spotted Andy Greene at the point, and the defencemen got his second assist of the game on a shot tipped downward by Elias and behind Elliott.
Elias, who was slowed earlier in the season by a groin injury, said he feels like he's getting into a groove.
"I'm starting to make the plays and I'm feeling more comfortable. I'm getting more shots, more often," the Czech veteran said. "Hopefully with that I'll get more opportunities."
In the third, Ottawa had a few chances to tie the score. In his very first NHL game, Ryan Keller forced Brodeur to make a tricky pad save.
The 26-year-old Keller had 13 goals in 20 games with Binghamton in the American Hockey League before being called up by the Senators. The Saskatoon native spent the previous three seasons playing in Finland.
Midway through the period, Broduer kept the puck out despite a mad scramble in his crease. Chris Kelly and Jarkko Ruutu were each unable to beat the prone goalie.
The speedy Michalek appeared to be sprung for a chance later, but outskated the puck.
Ruuttu's penalty helped stall Ottawa's momentum, and Parise and Zajac helped set up Langenbrunner's easy goal into the empty cage.
New Jersey (15-6-1) won for the first time in four games.
With files from The Associated Press
