New Jersey Devils
Mar 12, 2008 | By Ben Chaisson | Teams Articles Archive
After finally losing a shootout decision to Buffalo, the Devils return home hoping to take advantage of another stay at the Prudential Center.
"We have to put together some home wins and make it a tough place to play," defenseman Mike Mottau said after Wednesday night's loss in Buffalo. "We have to make sure and get those wins when we have the home ice advantage. We have to get those wins."
The Devils, in the midst of a span of nine of 10 games at home, lost the first three games of the five-game homestand that ended Monday night. They then didn't play great but did win the last two. Now, they host Anaheim (with the newly un-retired Teemu Selanne) and Carolina Friday and Saturday to kick off another four-game.
Remember, this team did go 10-0-1 in an 11-game home stretch through Jan. 8.
SABRES 3, DEVILS 2 (SO): The Devils went to the well once too often.
The shootout well, with Buffalo, that is.
After winning the first three games of the season series with the Sabres in shootouts, the Devils lost this one as the teams became the first to play an entire season series in shootouts.
"I think the positive (comes) out of coming back from two goals down and (getting) the point," defenseman Mike Mottau said.
Defensemen Karel Rachunek and Mottau scored to bring the Devils back, but Martin Brodeur, who had won four straight shootouts, was beaten by both Buffalo attempts, one by defenseman Henrik Tallinder, who had never taken a shootout shot nor scored a goal this season. The Devils went 0-for-2 against Ryan Miller and New Jersey's two-game winning streak was history.
Notes, Quotes
• The Devils went 3-0-1 in their four-game season series with Buffalo as the teams became the first to enter shootouts in all four games of the season series. New Jersey was 2-0 at home and 1-0-1 at Buffalo.
• The Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks comes to Newark Friday night to start a new four-game Devils homestand. The Ducks haven't won in New Jersey since the 1995-96 season, going 0-6 at the Meadowlands through their last visit, in the 2002-03 season. --New Jersey's power play has had only seven opportunities over the last four games, scoring once.
• The Devils got two goals from defensemen Wednesday for the second time in the last three games and only the third time this season.
Quote To Note: "Over the last few games, we haven't been playing 60 minutes of Devils hockey. We have to get focused on what we're trying to do and get focused this weekend." -- Devils defenseman Mike Mottau, after Wednesday night's shootout loss in Buffalo.
Roster Report
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Wingers
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Centers
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• G Martin Brodeur played his 13th straight game Wednesday night and saw his four-game shootout winning streak snapped. He is now 22-11 lifetime in shootouts.
• LW Jay Pandolfo, who returned to the lineup Monday night, is now wearing a visor.
• RW Arron Asham, who has two sore hands/wrists, sat out for the second straight game but it might not have had anything to do with the hands.
• RW Cam Janssen is waiting patiently to play his first game of the season, but there is not roster space for him.
• LW Sergei Brylin played in his 300th straight game Wednesday night.
• C John Madden assisted on both New Jersey goals, his 52nd career multi-point game. The usually dynamic faceoff man was just 5-9 in the game.
• LW Zach Parise and RW Brian Gionta both failed to score in the shootout, Parise going to 2-for-4 and Gionta 1-for-4 against Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller this season.
• Defensemen Andy Greene and Sheldon Brookbank were again healthy scratches.
• LW Dainius Zubrus has no goals in the last six games and two in the last 27.
• RW Brian Gionta hasn't scored in the last 11 games and has one goal in the last 19 games.
• RW Jamie Langenbrunner won a 60-inch flat panel TV and RW Mike Rupp a 50-inch flat screen and computer at Brodeur's team Super Bowl party.
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