Up next: Zach Parise, Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils

by FrankD on Dec 21, 2009 9:39 AM EST in 2009-10 game previews Comment 18 comments

Earlier this week Martin Brodeur reached a new milestone in his career, surpassing Patrick Roy for games played by a goaltender with 1,030. No doubt an impressive feat, especially since he's recorded 579 wins in the process (and hey, 105 ties). But I think the one record that is still looming overhead, posing as a bit of a motivator and perhaps storm cloud for Devils opponents is Terry Sawchuk's shutout record.

Back on December 7th, Brodeur tired Sawchuk's shutout record (103) with a 3-0 win over the Sabres. He, the Devils and NJ fans are still waiting for 104. The rest of the league is waiting as well, and will happily continue to wait as long as necessary. Brodeur currently leads all goaltenders with 22 wins, just one better than Marc-Andre Fleury.

As of right now the Devils and Penguinshave a firm holding in the Atlantic division, each tied with 51 points. The first place tie carries over to conference standings as well, where Washington sits just one point behind the two in second. In essence, tonight's game is a big one. Especially when you consider how poorly the Penguins have played against NJ this year.

October 24th: 4-1 loss
November 12th: 4-1 loss

It's not the end of the world by any means, but the opportunity to rebound in the season series presents itself tonight. On the calendar the Devils have put together 8-2 record for the month of December and skate into Pittsburgh as winners in four straight.

Offensively the Devils are - well, the Devils. Zach Parise leads all skaters with 37 pts (15g, 22a), while Jamie Langenbrunner and Travis Zajac are both hovering around that same area with 29 and 27 points each, respectively. Although Parise is chipping in where he can (two assists against Atlanta the other night), he's yet to score a goal in the entire month of December (10 games).

Puck and thread drop at 7:30.

And just for giggles, who do you think will score Pittsburgh's first goal?

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Comments

The fist goal will have to be The Noted One against his old team no less.

by spookygeek on Dec 21, 2009 9:48 AM EST reply actions

Gonchar on the PP for the first Pens goal

Pensburgh.com

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by Hooks Orpik on Dec 21, 2009 9:48 AM EST reply actions

Pens need to shutdown Bergfors.

SLBD

by SLBD on Dec 21, 2009 9:53 AM EST reply actions

Agreed, I was gonna mention this

In two games Bergfors (who I keep wanting to pronounce as "Forsberg") has 5 points (2g, 3a) against Pittsburgh. That’s 2.5 points/game in a very small sample size for the non-math majors.

Against the rest of the league he’s scoring at a .53 points/game pace (17 points in 32 games).

Pensburgh.com

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by Hooks Orpik on Dec 21, 2009 10:28 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah that dude has been a disaster for the Pens this season. Maybe he’s the Devils’ version of how Antropov used to be when he was a Leaf whenever he’d play the Pens. But at least Antro is considered an offensive guy. Bergfors is just kinda in the mix.

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by FrankD on Dec 21, 2009 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

But at least Antro is considered an offensive guy. Bergfors is just kinda in the mix.

Actually, Bergfors is tied for second with Matt Duchene for the league lead in rookie scoring (Bergfors 11 goals, 11 assists and 22 points are just five shy of the much ballyhooed John Tavares’ 27). Not bad for a rookie being stifled by Jacques Lemaire’s Neutral-Zone-Trap of Doom, eh? XP Just give it time. Bergfors has seen spot duty over the past few years, but this is his first season as a regular in the Devils line-up. Who knows? Maybe he will develop into an offensive force (and a Penguin killer) just yet.

by kellyn on Dec 21, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions

Zach Parise leads all skaters with 37 pts (15g, 22a)

I continue to be stunned that almost nobody talks about Zach Parise. This guy is the best forward that nobody ever hears about.

by SlayerGhaleon on Dec 21, 2009 12:00 PM EST reply actions

He had a ridiculous season last year and came within only a few points of being the first Devils forward to pick up 100. I think he’s the sort of guy who gets lost in the whole defense-first scheme that often has the stage in a Jacques Lemaire system

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by FrankD on Dec 21, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

And with a $3.125 million cap hit for this season and next, Parise is probably the best non-entry level contract for his production.

Pensburgh.com

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by Hooks Orpik on Dec 21, 2009 12:16 PM EST up reply actions

without a doubt.

He’s been a great player for the Devils and should be one of the main weapons for team USA in Vancouver

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Dec 21, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions

I am always shocked he gets overlooked and could be THE reason the US is competitive in Vancouver. He is that good!

by Ulf Murphy on Dec 21, 2009 7:24 PM EST up reply actions

Before Parise went into his December slump, he was on pace to score more goals this season than he did last year under Brent Sutter. If he somehow managed to excel offensively in the ‘whole defense-first scheme’ throughout the months of October and November, I doubt the problem, if there even is one at all, is Jacques Lemare or his system. Parise has only ever expressed positive thoughts about Lemaire as a coach, even going so far as to enthuse in radio and television interviews how intelligent Lemaire is about the hockey and how much he and the other forwards had learned from him about how to improve their play on both sides of the puck.

by kellyn on Dec 21, 2009 3:28 PM EST up reply actions

I wasn’t suggesting there was any tension there between player and coach, I’m just saying that a scoring forward like Parise may be hindered a bit in a defensive system.

And why the quotes around “defense-first team?” Do you not agree with that statement?

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by FrankD on Dec 21, 2009 5:06 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t disagree, I just think people assume that because the Devils place such a great emphasis on playing well on the defensive side of the puck that they have absolutely no offensive ability whatsoever, which simply is not true. While it may be true that the Devils have never had a big name goal scorer, they’ve proven that you don’t need one to win. They prefer to have their scoring spread more evenly throughout their line-up. And the Devils don’t only win low scoring matches. They won 5-4 in Atlanta the other night in a game that many would think of as the Devils equivalent of the shootout at the OK Corral.

by kellyn on Dec 21, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions

Well I definitely never said the Devils don’t have an offensive touch. I’ve seen first hand the Devils don’t win low-scoring matches in both of the Penguins’ games this season. And, as I type this comment, the Devs are currently up 4-0.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Dec 21, 2009 9:37 PM EST up reply actions

Going to call for Sid on the PP, knocking in a Malkin rebound.

This is one game I won’t be extremely upset if we lose, but I hope, with the highest of hopes, that we score a goal on Marty. Please don’t let us be number 104, not in the Igloo…

by Hatt the Moople on Dec 21, 2009 2:48 PM EST reply actions