Langenbrunner, others take blame after 1-0 loss to Pens

Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner knew he could have had a few goals in tonight's 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He wasn't interested in figuring out the exact number, though.

"You can count them," he said. "The team played well. If I capitalized on mine, it's a different story."

Well, there was that unbelievable diving left arm save Marc-Andre Fleury made on him in the second period. That one, he could probably live with. It was the one 45 seconds into the third period when Langenbrunner fired high over a nearly empty net that stuck with him most.

"The one to start the third period," Langenbrunner said. "That one I shot it high. I had the net and I just missed it. The one in the second period, I shot it hard and shot it where I wanted to. He just made a great diving save on it. I can't do a whole lot about that."

Langenbrunner admitted he raised his stick when Travis Zajac missed the net following up Langenbrunner's rebound with 20 seconds left in the first period.

"I thought it was in," Langenbrunner said. "Obviously, I jinxed us at the start."

Zajac said he just missed the net.

"I just didn't bury it," Zajac said. "I bury that goal and it's a different game. Those are the kind of chances you've got to capitalize on."

David Clarkson thought he had a goal on a scramble in front with 4:10 left in the second period, but replay showed that the puck never completely crossed the line before Penguins defenseman Mark Eaton kicked the puck out with his right skate..

"I thought it was (a goal)," Clarkson said. "Whatever the replay showed, I guess is the call. I'm not going to say it was wrong. I shot it and hoped it went in and I guess the call went against us there. I haven't seen the replay, so...I saw (Eaton) put his skate on the puck. I wish I could have it back because I would have tried to reach over. I think I've got to bear down on it. That's the difference in a game, a little thing like that."

Devils coach Brent Sutter said the replay officials in Toronto made the correct call.

"It didn't completely cross the line from what we could see it on the video," Sutter said.

Sutter didn't want attribute the team's second consecutive shutout to bad luck.

"I know their goalie played well, but that's six, seven periods we haven't scored a goal," Sutter said. "You have to bury your chances. We had opportunities. We had quality scoring chances tonight. We never capitalized on them and that's the difference in the game."

***

Right wing Brian Gionta disagreed with slashing penalty that was called on him with 53.4 seconds left, the goalie pulled for an extra attacker and the Devils on the power play.  Gionta slashed the stick out of Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik in front.

"I was battling in front," Gionta said. "It was a tough time to take it at that point in the game, down by a goal."

Sutter thought it was the right call, however, and a bad play by Gionta.

"It was a bad penalty on Brian's part," Sutter said. "You slash the stick out of his hand, it's going to be called. You can't take a penalty like that in a situation where you have a power play and down a goal and it's 6-on-4. You've got to be smarter than that."

***

If you're looking for a positive, it would be the Devils' defensive effort. They outshot the Penguins, 37-18, and held Sidney Crosby without a shot on goal. It was the second game in a row Crosby was held without a shot on goal. Evgeni Malkin had two shots.

Comments

[Pete]

Langenbrunner blowing quality scoring chances is nothing new; in fact, it happens every game. The difference tonight was that no one was able to bail him out.

Someone should have bought the Devils the popular new book, "Crashing the Net for Dummies." They didn't score because they never crashed the net for rebounds, a big factor in why they scored so much recently. Every goalie in the NHL can stop most of a team's first shots, its the rebounds that get you goals, and until they learn that, they're going to keep blowing chances.

[Robbie]

Good old Devils hockey is what it is

[bobo]

This is the 2nd time this year where this IDIOT Cameron starts the wave. Really...........

[G-D]

What's going on with Doc Emrick? Is he in poor health?

[Jeff]

Cameron is definately an Idiot glad he doesn't show up to most of the weekday games I go to.

[DP]

no langs the team did not play well

[AK47]

Who is Cameron?

[David]

it seemed like paul martin had a bit too much egg nog. his puck control and passing was poor, in my opinion.

[RG9]

todays game and the one against boston was a flashback of last year. give a way shutouts

[Dan D]

Two losses and everyones already piling onto the Devils? Wow. Its 2 close losses against 2 top teams in the league. They'll be fine.

[TG]

I can't hear the audio from the TV feed during games. Did Doc not do the game tonight? I thought I saw him in the press room before the game. Maybe I imagined it.

[welcome2hell]

I heard Doc got sick between periods and so Steve Cangilosi had to fill in.

[Jack]

Doc sounded like he had a cold or a sore throat during the first two period, Steve Cang took over for him in the third period I believe.

Hopefully the Devils can find a way to score tomorrow night against the Rangers.

[Bocephus]

Langenbrunner stating the obvious may make a nice story but it doesn't pay the bills. His role needs to be drastically reduced. Five goals from a guy playing nearly 20 minutes a night, including prime PP time just isn't going to cut it.

If the Devils have aspirations of accomplishing anything significant Langenbrunner needs to be replaced by someone better and dropped down to an energy, checking, PK role...nothing more.

That replacement should have been Rolston, but he's been worse than awful. They also need to add a puck moving defenseman that can quarterback the PP. Rolston should be on the half boards and outside the faceoff circle firing one timers, and Langenbrunner should be on the bench during the PP. You need somebody with vision and creativity (two qualities that Rolston & Langenbrunner are sorely lacking) to quarterback the PP.

[RestlessKnight]

Paul Martin makes me miss Rafalski or even Andy Greene. Martin is out of his element on the PP.

[Merms]

who's McCreary's bookie?

[Prokat]

Same old story line-the striped shirts are clowns with skates-just putrid calls all night whether we won or not.
The refereeing is just abhorrent.

[Falcone]

I agree with the above post, Langs hasn't done much this year. On Zack and Travis' line he's slower and not that great. They should put Rolston out there for a game and see what happens. However Rolston isn't the answer. They need another quick, better player. Langs needs to go. Make Patty the captain again.

[drewbee30]

trade elias, rolston sucks, fire sutter!!!

[drewbee30]

I'm an idiot! I'm an idiot!! I'm an idiot!!!

[95-00-03]

Let the Devil bashing trade everyone talk begin!

You guys are really spoiled - you act like we are out of playoff contention after 2 very close losses.

The Boston game was about as close a game as it gets and last night's game could have gone either way as well.

We win tonight and all is forgotten as far as I am concerned.

Clemmer has been great and I for one and am very happy for that. As a whole this team has exceeded all of my expectations with the loss of Marty and the injuries we have been through.

Looking forward to a great game tonight and have some faith in this team will ya.

GO DEVILS!