Penguins’ losing streak reaches 4

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

The New Jersey Devils are not worried when they have to play short-handed.

Adam Henrique’s short-handed goal turned the momentum, Ilya Kovalchuk and Dainus Zubrus also scored and the Devils handed the Pittsburgh Penguins their fourth consecutive loss, 3-1 on Saturday night.

New Jersey did not allow a goal on either of Pittsburgh’s power plays to improve the league’s best penalty kill to 91.2 percent this season. Henrique’s goal was the Devils’ NHL-high ninth while short-handed.

After having played exactly half its schedule, New Jersey has been outscored only 10-7 while playing 4 on 5. It’s been outscored by a much wider margin (83-70) playing 5 on 5.

“[Short-handed goals] have been a weapon for us all year, thankfully,” Devils coach Peter DeBoer said. “Our penalty killing has been great and we’ve found a way to score short-handed goals. It’s been a big part of our success this year.”

Kovalchuk and Henrique each added an assist, Zach Parise had two assists and Martin Brodeur made 41 saves for the Devils, who beat the Penguins for the second time in eight days and moved past them in the Eastern Conference standings.

Evgeni Malkin scored for Pittsburgh. One month ago, the Penguins were in first place in the conference and the Devils were 12th. New Jersey has climbed to fifth, and Pittsburgh fell to eighth.

“There’s so much parity in the league right now,” Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik said. “You can play well, but with the way the standings are right now, a team can really outshoot you bad, but as long as you win, it doesn’t really matter.”

The Penguins also have outshot each of their past four opponents, including a 42-27 edge Saturday.