Devils frustrate Crosby; Clemmensen misses shutout again

On Nov. 29, Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby registered his second career hat trick in a 4-1 victory over the Devils at Mellon Arena.

The story was a lot different tonight as Crosby was held without a point in the Devils' 4-1 win at Prudential Center.

Crosby did hit the left side of the net in the first period and the left post in the second period, but finished with only two shots on net, By the third period, Crosby was so frustrated that he grabbed Brian Gionta around the collar and pulled him down. Both players received roughing minors for the wrestling match that ensued, but Crosby picked up an extra holding penalty for the exchange.

"I don't know exactly what happened," Gionta said. "He just grabbed me from behind and I fell down I guess."

Was that a sign of Crosby's frustration?

I'm sure," Gionta said.

Devils goaltender Scott Clemmensen thought so too.

"Yeah I did," Clemmensen said. "A little bit there in the second you could hear him kind of talking back to the refs a little bit more. And, obviously, when that went on with Gionta I figured that we probably got to him a little bit there. That's what happens when you're a great player. You expect great things and it's frustrating not winning. That's for sure. We've all been there."

The line of Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus and Gionta spent much of the night against Crosby's line with Pascal Dupuis and Miroslav Satan. Although John Madden and Brent Sutter both denied that it was on purpose, Madden's line also had some shifts against Crosby -- particularly early in the game.

After letting Crosby and Evgeni Malkin skate freely for almost two periods on Nov. 29, the Devils were determined tonight to take away the time and space to create from both stars.

"The plan was just to play hard, take the play to them, not sit back and wait for them to create the energy," Gionta said. "We had to go out there and create energy and bring the play to them."

***

Clemmensen lost his bid for a shutout in the third period for the third time in his last seven starts. Tonight, the Penguins scored their only goal with 3:58 remaining after Malkin's centering pass went in off the right leg of Matt Cooke in front.

Clemmensen called Cooke's goal "cheesy", but also admitted he got some breaks on Penguins' shots that hit the post -- two by Jordan Staal and one by Crosby. So, he wasn't being too picky about losing his chance for hsi third career shutout.

"Shutouts are nice, but, especially against this team, I'm just happy to get the win," Clemmensen said. "They've beaten me the last three times I've played against them and to beat them here at home was good. Shutouts are gravy, I think, for goalies, but it would have been nice to get one."

***

Clememsen said he received a delay of game penalty in the second period because he reached behind the net to cover the puck when the officials told him to keep play moving.

 

"In that instance there, my defenseman (Johnny Oduya) broke his stick and I really wanted to freeze the puck," Clemmensen said. "As it got close to the net, it was kind of behind the net, I grabbed it with my glove and pulled it back out in front. (The referee) was yelling at me to play it and, obviously, there was nothing I could do about that at that time. He didn't like me pulling it from behind the net. That was the whole issue there."

 

***

Devils coach Brent Sutter would not say after tonight's game which of his goaltenders would start Friday night agaisnt the Rangers, but you have to figure it's going to be Clemmensen, who has allowed only four goals in winning his last three games.

 

After getting back at the Penguins for that 4-1 loss on Nov. 29, the Devils were well aware that their next game is against the Rangers, who they have defeated only once in their last 10 regular season meetings and are 0-2 against this season.

 

"The significance is the obvious," Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner said. "We haven't beaten them in a long time and it's another divisional game we need to get points in. They're obviously better. They've had our number for a while now and it's important for us to stop that."

 

Comments

[Pete]

Thank God that Mike "The Turnover Machine" Mottau didn't cause a goal for them. He's lucky none of the 5 or 6 giveaways in our zone made it into the back of our net. I wish we would just get rid of him already. When Greene comes back, Mottau should be sent to Lowell where he can feed the other team the puck all he wants.

[mikeford]

That move by Crosby on Gionta was absolutely bush league. It boggles my mind that any Penguins fan can sit there and actually like this guy. He's a great talent, no doubt, but he's also a crybaby and an undercover dirty player.

[rico]

i haaaaate crosby more than avery. at least avery has the balls to make his moves obvious...i would love to see gio have a clean fight with crosby...that or clarkson or holik bash sid into the ground. he's a cry baby, has no captain spirit compared to malkin, takes dives and is a p-ssy player when it comes down to it. has been pulling this for the past two years. even againt the rangers in the playoffs in 08 he drove me nuts....will never happen, but i would empty my bank to see stevens lay him out. gio has experience with chara...would love to see him mess up crosby next time around.

[Puckster]

I completely agree about Crosby. A world class talent. A classless whiner and sneaky dirty player. Sometimes, I get the feeling he's being flashy just for the sake of being flashy and not because its the right play. As with Rico, I would love to have seen Crosby play during the Stevens era. I don't think he'd get far with the spinorama and Stevens definately would have given Crosby something to cry about.

[modnarm]

would i be dumb to say trade weekes for a pick?

[modnarm]

i agree with Puckster.. i'd love to see a lot of the young talent today go up against the hard defense of 5 years ago. Crosby, Semin, Vanek.. even Malkin and Ovechkin... i don't think they'd be flying around the ice like they do today.. and would be a loooot more careful not to be dicks.... specifically Crosby.

[Salvatore from Garfield]

I agree with the previous comments regarding crosby. Wish he would have picked on somebody his own size instead of gionta. What a cry-baby and a bully.

[Pete]

Weekes is not getting traded for 2 reasons: 1) He's a free agent after this season, and most teams would not give up a draft pick for a backup goalie who won't even be there after the season ends, and 2) below weekes and clemmensen we have no solid goaltending in the system. frazee and caruso need a tutor, and with Clemmer up here they're pretty much on their own

[Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti)]

Sorry not a hater of Crosby, i have alot of respect for him. He is still a kid and what you saw was child-like frustration, or just plain immaturity if you like. He is gonna grow up, but its gotta be tough to be the golden boy since the age of 16.

That said i am glad they are aware of their problems with the rangers and hopefully they stand up and decide they are not going to take it anymore

[Puckster]

Modnarm, I would only disagree with you about Ovechkin. He's in a class by himself. Not only is he very talented, but he also plays with a hard edge and doesn't shy away from throwing the body himself. I think he'd handle himself fine. Hell, I think he threw more hits on our defense than vice versa when we played the Capitals this year.

[Puckster]

I'd hold on to Weekes. We're not going to get anything for him since he's a UFA next year and he hasn't really been playing much this season. Also, god forbid Marty doesn't recover from his injury this season, we're going to need a seasoned goaltender in the playoffs in case Clemmenson falters.

[Brodeur30]

I was at the game in the lower bowl..It was hilarious just observing Crosby as the game went on and he continued to get very little in terms of chances and when he got his only two golden ones he blew them...

Then, instead of taking his anger out on the scoreboard, he decides to grab Gionta and try to scratch and claw gionta to the ground. Weak. You want to make a statement in a game you're not going to win Sid? Then be a man and go after someone your own size like Clarkson. Clarkson would've stomped his whining @ss. The best was the fact that as the game wore on his conversations with the refs increased. I understand captains have to play with passion and stick up for their team, but there's a distinct difference said responsibilities and whining..

btw After the first period tonight the lower bowl filled in quite nicely. The upper level was extremely packed. Good turnout...

[modnarm]

yea i should've not including Ovie in there. i forgot weekes is a UFA after this year. my bad.

[Brodie30]

I really wanted to like Crosby when he came into the league, even though I am wary of "anointed" individuals. But I can't stand the whining and the diving. Don't act like the world owes you something, earn it. That said perhaps Pearl Jammed is right and he'll grow out of it.

[Brodie30]

And as much as I like him and grateful for the way he is playing, maybe Clemmer should be traded when Marty is ready to come back. He's a Tim Thomas type. It's not always pretty, but he stops the puck. I see him as a 30 game tandem starter with some team and he likely won't get that opportunity here. It might be best for all involved, even though I don't want to lose him.

[RestlessKnight]

If Clemmenson can possibly keep this up to where were are within 10 games of Marty's return I would consider offers from any of the bottom five teams. He will have deserved to be shopped at that point to a team where he has a chance to start. We will not be able to keep him here with Marty. Hot Goalie = Hefty Return.

[Per]

I like Crosby. This game is not for nice boys, and he knows it. He wants to win every game with a passion.

[Per]

I like Crosby. This game is not for nice boys, and he knows it. He wants to win every game with a passion.

[Per]

Sorry, that got posted twice, lol.

[prokat]

@pete
Forget to take your medication?
The entire Devils D played great.The score was 4-1 last I looked.
Mottau is a + 5. The Devils D for the season is now a net + 34 led by White.
The Devils have won 8 of 9.
What's the problem?

[Falcone]

I missed the first period because my flight was delayed but made it back for the second and third, but did PL3 have a good game at all? I know from what I saw he barely played in the second and was subbed for in the third. Is this guy really necessary to have in the lineup? Put Ruppy back in. You're messing with a guy's mind in this case and its not helping.

[JP]

Falcone, from what I recall, PL3 played briefly, turned the puck over at least once and did nothing to warrant more ice time. In my opinion, PL3 is in there to be physical & he did none of that. I don't like getting down on players & I have no problem playing PL3 against teams like Philly but if we want the best lineup, Rupp should be in there.

[SonicDude]

we were stifling last night, great all around team effort, very nice defensive chemistry

leach's tape to tape w/zach was a thing of beauty, altho zach could not convert

zubrus was on a mission

we need to rethink our power play approach

can someone please set explosive charges underneath route 21, blow that road to bits and start all over again? what a freakin' nightmare.

[SonicDude]

for those wondering where the crowd was in the first period...

WE WERE ON THAT NIGHTMARE CALLED ROUTE 21 -- WHERE CONSTRUCTION AND POOR PUMPING SYSTEMS LIVE!!!

my arrival time: 6:43 left in 1st period

[TG]

Good to know Sonic. I hate Route 21 too if that makes you feel any better.
But it's still my best route in and out of Newark.