Penguins Clinch Playoff Birth

[MrPsychic 1]

Marc-Andre Fleury had 31 saves and the Pittsburgh Penguins clinched a playoff berth and took a big step toward winning the Atlantic Division title, beating the New Jersey Devils 2-0 on Tuesday night.

 

Ryan Malone scored a first-period power-play goal and Marian Hossa added one into an empty net for the Penguins, who opened a four-point lead over the Devils in the division and pulled to within a point of Montreal for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

 

Pittsburgh and the Canadiens have five games to play in the regular season, one less than the Devils, whose four-game winless streak (0-3-1) matches their season high.

 

Malone got his sixth goal of the season against New Jersey at 5:18 of the first period with Patrik Elias off for interference.

 

Defenseman Sergei Gonchar sent a pass to the left circle and Ryan Whitney found Malone alone between the circles for a one-timer that beat goaltender Martin Brodeur. It extended Malone's career-best goal total to 27.

 

The Devils thought they tied the game midway through the second period when defenseman Sheldon Brookbank put a power-play shot into the net with Fleury down after being bumped by Arron Asham of the Devils. Referee Eric Furlatt immediately waved off the goal, ruling that Asham prevented the goaltender from playing the puck.

 

Fleury, who has won 7 of 8 starts, stopped 15 shots in the third period in posting his fourth shutout of the season and the 11th of his career. The 23-year-old stopped Jamie Langenbrunner in close on a power play early in the period and stopped deflections by Zach Parise and Elias just seconds apart with less than nine minutes to play.

 

It marked the 10th time this season that New Jersey has been shut out.

 

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby sat out his seventh straight game and 28th in 31 because of a sprained right ankle. Pittsburgh is 16-8-4 without him, including 5-2 in the past seven.

 

Crosby has been listed day to day and the Penguins hope that he will play on Thursday in Pittsburgh against the Islanders.

 

Amazing to think that two years ago, they were dead last in the Eastern Conference and second to last in the league.

[Itchygomba69 0]

WHoo Hooo!

[ussvwbeetle 0]

Finally, the greatest part of Hockey, the playoffs. Red Wings all the way!!!!