Game Photos: 1/7/12 Pens vs Devils (plus 1/6/12 Pens vs Rangers)

Friday's 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers met with such critical acclaim that the Pens put on an encore performance Saturday night vs the Devils. Martin Brodeur's 41-save performance capped off a back-to-back offensive nightmare that saw the Pens throw 80 shots on net and score only twice. The weekend's action left Brooks Orpik with plenty to say.

Check out our photos from the game after the jump.

Pregame, we got the Bibster to pose for a photo with @PensKnittngLady's sock.

We also got a look at Bob's snack choices for the game.

Even in the warm-up the Pens looked very much like a team playing under an injury curse and riding a 3-game losing streak.

No Jeff Jimerson in the house, but this kid belted out the anthem and brought the house down. The crowd was seriously pumped going into the game.

Just as they did in Friday's game vs the Rangers, the Pens struck first, this time on a goal by Evgeni Malkin.

Brodeur was in for a long night.

The Pens dominated the first period, forcing Devils' coach Peter DeBoer to use his timeout.

Flower didn't see much rubber in the first as New Jersey could muster only three shots on goal.

James Neal had a goal waved off shortly after the Devils' timeout, but with the way the Pens were playing he and Geno discussed how they'd divide up all the goals to be scored.

Something interesting happened on the way to victory as Martin Brodeur decided to play like...well...Martin Brodeur. This big save on a Steve Sullivan power play shot seemed to jump start his team.

The Pens failed to score on the power play. In fact, the Devils cashed in shorthanded. Doubt started to creep in.

The Devils added another goal in the second then one more early in the third. With the Pens trailing 3-1 there was little reason for many fans to stay for the closing minutes. Iceburgh took advantage of the situation and grabbed a prime seat behind Marc-Andre Fleury.

An all too familiar scene recently, Flower heads for the bench to get the extra attacker on the ice for a chance at a late comeback.

Only positive at the end was preventing the Devils from scoring in the empty net. Geno, feeling the weight of this loss.

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Rewind to Friday night and the game against the Rangers. I had already forgotten most of this game by the time the puck dropped against the Devils Saturday night, but I do remember that it marked the return of Mike Rupp to the CEC. Rupper made an impact though not on the scoresheet, but more on that later.

The Pens got the early goal.

Times were good. The tough losses to Philly and New Jersey the prior week seemed to be forgotten.

But the Rangers tightened up a bit defensively. Marc Staal had a pretty solid game.

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The Rangers tied it late in the first, took the lead early in the second and added insurance early in the third.

Cy "Malkamania" Clark looks on as Jordan Staal faces off against Brad "Wet Pants" Richards.

Getting back to the impact Mike Rupp had on the game and beyond, his kneeing penalty put Jordan Staal out.

That wraps up this two-game weekend. The Pens have lost four straight. Nothing to do but look to the next game and hope for a win to get them out of it. Tough games are ahead. More photos to come Wednesday from Verizon Center.