Clarkson the pest

David Clarkson will never be able to match the goal-scoring skill of Atlanta's Ilya Kovlachuk, but the Devils rookie did a pretty good job of getting under the sniper's skin in today's 3-2 shootout win over the Thrashers. The two exhanged hits throughout the game. Clarkson called for interference in the first period for stepping to Kovalchuk with a shoulder in the neutral zone. Kovalchuk took a penalty at the start of the second period when it appeared he kicked Clarkson's feet out from under him.

"Its one of those things that carries over from games in the past that we played against them," Clarkson said. "'My job is to go out there and play hard-nosed and maybe get under his skin a bit and that's kind of what I tried to do tonight. I took that penalty early, which wasn't a good one, and he ended up getting me back. I was just playing hard and I think getting in his face he didn't like that too much."

Comments

[Sarah]

I love this kid. He's gritty, he gets in peoples' faces, but he's got the scoring touch to back it up. I think we're gonna see some really good stuff from him.

[bobo]

with clarkson playing so well, and cam janssen getting healthy, where does that leave rupp???? is lou going to be able to trade him or will he also disapear to lowell

[Sean]

David Clarkson really doesn't get enough credit on this team. I think he is going to be a big guy for our nucleus of the future. He seems to be like what Langenbrunner was on Dallas. They had so many scoring wingers on that team, he got stuck on a defensive line. Clarkson always hustles and does everything to win a game that isn't seen on the scoresheet.

[melch]

he seems like a young sean avery

[PhantomNJ]

Melch, bite your tongue. Last person I'd compare Clarkson to is Avery given that Avery seems to run away every time someone who might actually kick his tail challenges him. Clarkson has shown time and time again already this season that he backs down from no one.