Clemmensen come through in stretch as Devils beat Pens

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Scott Clemmensen, a minor leaguer for most of his career, wondered if his NHL chance would ever come.

Finally given an opportunity, Clemmensen seized it after New Jersey No. 1 goalie Martin Brodeur sustained a biceps injury that will sideline him until March.

Clemmensen had0 another strong game, making 26 saves, and Travis Zajac scored the first goal as the Devils kept rolling with a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.

Clemmensen, who has emerged as the Devils go-to goalie, improved to 7-1 in his last eight starts.

“I saw a lot of guys I played against in the American Hockey League get the chance,” Clemmensen said. “Comparing myself to them, I always knew I could do the same, if I was given the opportunity. I waited a long time for this, but that’s why you work on your game in case something like this happens.

“Even though I have played in some games in the past, this is my first opportunity to play a stretch.”

Clemmensen realized that time was running out for a 31-year-old goalie who had played in only 38 games.

“I don’t know how many more chances I’m going to get,” Clemmensen said. “This is mine right here, and I’m going to try and make the most of it.”

Clemmensen has taken the sting out of Brodeur’s injury, which could have wrecked the Devils’ season.

“It’s been great. He’s a guy that has paid his dues,” Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner. said. “It’s great to see him get the opportunity and run with it.”

Zajac, Zach Parise, Dainius Zubrus and Patrik Elias provided the scoring for the Devils, who won for the eighth time in nine games. They avenged the lone loss in that span, a 4-1 defeat in Pittsburgh on Nov. 29.

Matt Cooke scored for Pittsburgh, ending Clemmensen’s shutout bid with 3:58 remaining. Evgeni Malkin, the NHL leading scorer, bulled his way past two defenders to flip the puck across the slot to Cooke for the tap in.

The Penguins’ losing streak reached three as they were beaten in regulation in New Jersey for the first time in seven games (5-1-1).

“We played a pretty decent hockey game but we got a few bad breaks on both sides of the puck,” the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby said. “They got a few bounces on their goals and we hit a few posts.”