Live blog: Parise scores 100th career goal in 5-1 win over Kings

The Devils matched their season-high with three power-play goals and Kevin Weekes made 34 saves in  a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings tonight at Staples Center.

Five different Devils scored goals to help them start off a six-game road trip with a win. Zach Parise scored the 100th goal of his NHL career. Travis Zajac had a goal and two assists. Brian Rolston also scored in his 1000th NHL game.

Jamie Langenbrunner and Patrik Elias also had goals as the Devils bounced back after losing their previous two games. Langenbruner, Elias and Parise each had a goal and an assist in the win.

The Devils reached the mid-way point in their season with a 24-14-3 record. Last season they were 23-15-3 after 41 games.

Weekes was solid in making his first start since Dec. 13. He earned his first win since a 5-2 victory over the Islanders on Nov. 21 at Prudential Center.

Thanks for staying up late with me. We'll do it again Sunday night. It's an 8 p.m. Eastern time start in Anaheim.

I would guess the Devils will go back to Scott Clemmensen in net, but, at the very least, Weekes earned another start in the near future with his sharp play tonight. He might get one of those back-to-back games later in this trip in Columbus and on Long Island.

*** 

Langenbrunner scored on a 2-on-1 with Travis Zajac to increase the Devils' lead to 5-1 over the Kings tonight at Staples Center.

Matt Greene really flattened Zach Parise on that hit right before that goal. We might see the Devils try to get back at Greene for that with a four-goal lead.

Mike Rupp took care of that by handling Greene pretty easily in a fight. Say this for Greene: at least he knew he had to answer for the hit by dropping the gloves with Rupp. Too many guys won't do that anymore.

Brian Rolston's power-play goal at 6:29 of the third period increased the Devils' lead to 4-1.

That was the Devils' third power-play goal of the night -- matching their season high. Kind of ironic on the day they added Brendan Shanahan to help their power play.

Roslton's goal came on a left point shot with David Clarkson screening in front. Simple stuff the Devils sometimes forget to do.

Derek Armstrong scored on a deflection 1:17 into the third period to cut the Devils' lead to 3-1.

Armstrong deflected Alexander Frolov's right circle shot down and past Kevin Weekes to end Weekes' shutout bid. The Devils were on their heels a bit after that, but Weekes kept it from becoming a one-goal game with some good saves, including a big one on Dustin Brown.

Patrik Elias and Zach Parise scored 1:11 apart early in the second period to make it 3-0. Travis Zajac scored a power-play goal in the first period.

Parise's goal was the 100th of his NHL career.

***

Elias made it 2-0 with a power-play goal at 1:07. Like on the first goal, Travis Zajac won a right circle draw to start the power play. This time he beat Michal Handzus, getting the puck back to Elias, who blasted a slap shot past goaltender Jonathan Quick.

Elias then forced the turnover that led to Parise's goal at 2:18 -- his 23rd of the season. Elias' forecheck caused defenseman Matt Greene to cough up the puck to Parise at the top of the left circle. Then, using Elias as a decoy on his left, Parise moved in and lifted a backhand over Quick's glove.

Terry Murray called timeout after that to complain to the offiicials about what he thought should have been a penalty on Elias.

Kevin Weekes looks very calm and in control tonight. He's not giving up a lot of rebounds, which sometimes create those flurries that make him look rattled.

He slid to his right to make that blocker save on Patrick O'Sullivan during the Kings' power play and remained calm after Bryce Salvador fell down on that one rush and made the left arm save on Derek Armstrong.

That look of confidence can be sensed by his teammates and can make a difference.

I thought the Devils' play slipped a little in the second half of the second period. They spent a lot more time in their end over the final eight minutes or so.

***

Travis Zajac scored a power-play goal with 5:58 left in the first period to make it 1-0 Devils.

After winning a right circle draw, Zajac went to the net to deflect in Jamie Langenbrunner's point shot.

That shows the importance of winning draws, an area in which the Devils had sagged earlier this week.

I thought the Devils' looked decent on their first power play as well. Zach Parise probably should have had a goal on that one.

Kevin Weekes looks sharp so far. I think it helped him to get in that third period on Thursday night just to warm him up for tonight's game.

He had a good first period, stopping all seven shots he faced.

Interesting switch by Brent Sutter to switch the centers on the bottom two lines. John Madden is centering Brian Rolston and David Clarkson and Bobby Holik is centering Jay Pandolfo and Mike Rupp.

Rolston is playing in his 1000th NHL game tonight.

***

I was safely in my apartment, glad not to be out in the snow, when the call came about the Devils and Brendan Shanahan. That ruined what I thought was going to be a relaxing evening leading up to tonight's game in Los Angeles.

As most of you probably already know, Kevin Weekes will start in net for the Devils tonight for the first time since Dec. 13 against Buffalo. He did mop up in the third period of Thursday's 4-0 loss to Atlanta and allowed one goal on five shots (the goal came on the first shot he faced.)

Anyway, I will be watching tonight's game on TV and posting my comments throughout. Hopefully everyone survived the snow today and you're staying up late to watch as well. I look forward to reading your comments.

Comments

[Kevin]

Thanks TG...looking forward to your thoughts on tonight's game

[Josh]

Throw on a pot of coffee, it's gonna be a rough night tonight.

Did you have to actually go to The Rock or your place of work, TG? I guess it struck me as the kind of thing you could handle from home - phone conferences and such. If you were out in the snow, hope everything went well - I'm terribly thankful I took this weekend off.

[Cornholio]

Good evening, TG. Did you have to go anywhere today, or did you participate in the conference call from the apartment?

[brian]

tg what are your thoughts on the signing and what do you believe is the next move if you believe one will be made?

[ZM]

No trip out to California for you TG? I heard there's less snow there. Is Chere out there? I don't know of any other regular reporters for us. Thanks!

[Kelly]

I will be staying up to watch the game. I'm at work and I am hoping to get home before the puck drops (if these open hockey guys get in on time). It's clearing up here in eastern PA as far as the weather goes. We got about 4-5 inches. I am stoked to see Weeksie in net. He's just one of those guys everybody likes. I hope he'll make a stand and get some more playing time in the near future.

I'm definitely giving Shanny a chance. He brings a lot to the table so I hope he can prove himself right off the bat.

[Ben M.]

Hope the Devils will play well in front of Weekes for once.

[Puckster]

I'll be watching. Hopefully, Weekes will come through tonight.

[Devs]

Im watching the Rags game right now and their announcers are awful and extremely bias...always praise the Rags and never really praise the other team...I know Doc is the best and gotta love Chico but they talk about both teams and give credit when credit is due

[Nick]

Hopefully this is nothing like the last game..

[Cornholio]

Devs, I think MSG Network leaves Doc and Chico alone because they're the Devils' announcers. Same goes for Howie and Billy because they're the Islanders' guys. The network could care less about what comes out of their mouths.

Since the Rangers are its main focus, perhaps the brass make it clear to Sam and Joe that if they step out of line, then they will do to them what they did to Marv when he got tough on the Knicks.

[JerseyLove]

Woo hoo! I love late games, but today I'm absolutely exhausted. So it's caffeine time. The Devils better not disappoint, cause I am too hyped.

[95-00-03]

I think we now have the oldest roster in the NHL. I don't get signing Shanahan - I thought the "sign Shanny" posts on here were just funny comments. All we can do is hope Lou still knows what he's doing.

We really need these 2 points tonight.

GO DEVILS!

[Cornholio]

I know the team's out west, but would it hurt to have a pre-game show tonight?

[kstatik]

Why Shanahan?? Ok, sorry... still needed to vent a little. GO DEVILS!!!

[Jacko]

I can't believe the sour grapes about Shanny. The fans bi tch and moan about no goal scoring and then they sign a proven guy who strictly scores and the fans bi tch and moan... Interesting!

The reality is Brian Gionta is a hack, a no move winger who has a very difficult time doing much besides skate hard. He needs to be traded because theres no way the Devils sign him after this season.

[Matt McNaught]

Rich Chere is in LA.

[Mike O.]

Why Shanahan? Because as Lou said, he can add to the team without losing anybody. I guess this is the only move he could make before the trades start coming.

[Cornholio]

If Afinogenov had any intention of playing in the NHL next season, then I'd consider sending Gionta to Buffalo in exchange for him.

[Devs]

would anyone else really be mad if we dealt Langenbrunner..Langs Gio and Madden to me are the three we are probably going to shop around

[JRCACTS412]

My thoughts on the Devils:

1) Brian Gionta: He dosen't win any battles or races for the puck, gets knocked off the puck, he dosen't keep his feet moving, turns over the puck, can't get a shot through, if he gets one off, and when he does, he misses the net. He had a nice little stretch a month or so ago but looks worse for the ware. His size is a detriment. He should be traded. I think it would be good for him and the Devils.
2) Mike Mottau and Andy Greene: Motts is a good passer and finds away to get his wrist shots through from the point. He is smart offensively(not latelty however) In his own zone, he gets out of position, looks outmatched and outmuscled by bigger forwards down low. He is a 7th D at best. Greene skates well but to small in his own zone. Both players are liabilities in own zone and get out of position trying to create O.
3) Coach Sutter: Last game he benches Jay Leach, who has the size and strength D desperatly needs. Sutter plays Salvador who fumbled up 1st goal for Canes and was lazy on 2nd.Sutter benches Mike Rupp 5 or 6 weeks ago while he was playing well. Players knew how they stood with Pat Burns. You play well, you play, if not, you sit. Simple. Sutter seems to play mind games and has his favorites. Gionta,Langenbrunner, Madden, Pandolfo, Martin, Zajac have all played poorly lately, why don't they get scratched?
4) I disagree with Mr.Dave Conte( A man I have a tremendous amount of respect for) when he says in a recent USA Hockey today article that smaller players can thrive in NHL. I don't see that over the long, hard grind of an NHL season and playoffs. Gionta is proof. The Devils have been to "smallish" up front and on the Blue Line for years and have drafted that way. I beleive Mr. Lamorellio(who I have the ultimate respect) is beginning to see this and went out and brought back Holik and Rolston.
5) What do you think of these 3 players and the possbility of them being avaliable? Anton Volckenkov,Chris Phillips and Trent Hunter. To me, they are the type of players this Devils team needs.

[Tom Gulitti]

I was surprised by the Shanahan signing. I guess Lamoriello thinks he has something left.

Brendan has always been able to score. I'm not sure about his skating anymore.

If it was his knee we should know in the first few games.

[Cornholio]

Hunter would be nice, but I'm not sure he's the answer.

Phillips isn't much better than Redden. Not sure he'd be the answer, either.

Volchenkov is definitely not the answer.

[Cornholio]

Doc is back!

[Mike O.]

DOC IS BACK! The Cangialosi Curse is over!!!! I see a 10-game winning streak.........