-- Even when the New Jersey Devils' defensemen allowed a rare shot to get past them, Martin Brodeur was there to make the save.
Brodeur stopped 23 shots, and Jamie Langenbrunner scored with 7:43 left as the Devils snapped the Philadelphia Flyers' six-game winning streak with a 1-0 victory on Thursday night in the first meeting of the season between the Atlantic Division rivals.
The Devils didn't allow the Flyers to get a shot during five power-play opportunities, including a 5-on-3.
"Brodeur is probably our best defensemen right now,'' Devils coach Pat Burns said.
The Flyers are off to a 9-2-2 start under new coach Ken Hitchcock. New Jersey is 8-3 under Burns, its new coach.
After Eric Desjardins failed to control the puck near the right boards, Langenbrunner gathered it, skated just outside the right circle and fired a shot into the top left corner for his third goal.
"I tried to move the puck and it got stuck on the boards and I missed,'' Desjardins said. "He came off the bench and he was flying. He went right for the puck and made a perfect shot.''
Seconds earlier, Brodeur stopped Simon Gagne on a 2-on-1 breakaway. "I didn't want to move,'' Brodeur said of his strategy. "I played with the guy in the Olympics. He likes to make the goalie make the first move. I stood my ground.''
Brodeur recorded his 56th career shutout, first this season and ninth by a 1-0 margin. The Devils have allowed just 17 goals, fewest in the NHL.
"There weren't a lot of chances,'' Langenbrunner said. "Both teams played well and Brodeur made some good saves. This was definitely a measuring stick for us playing against one of the top teams.''
Desjardins nearly beat Brodeur with a slap shot early in the game. The puck got past Brodeur, but he reached back and stopped it as it was heading into the net.
The Flyers had a two-man advantage for 1:19 early in the second period, but failed to even get a shot on Brodeur. Philadelphia is 2-for-31 on the power-play in its last five games.
"We were just trying not to let them set up for a one-timer because they have some guys who can shoot it off the pass,'' Devils center Joe Nieuwendyk said. "Down two men, it looked dismal in a game like this that late.''
Flyers goalie Roman Cechmanek stopped 26 shots, including a sprawling save on a shot by Jeff Friesen midway through the second period.
"You don't want to lose a game because of a bouncing puck, but we've won some games that way,'' Hitchcock said. "It was ours for the taking in the third period.''
| SCORING |
PENALTIES |
First Period: None.
Second Period: None.
Third Period: 1, New Jersey, Jamie Langenbrunner 3 (Unassisted), 12:17. |
First Period: J Roenick, Phi (interference), 8:24; M Danton, Njd (tripping), 11:36.
Second Period: B Gionta, Njd (holding stick), 11:42.
Third Period: P Elias, Njd (holding stick), 2:36; S Niedermayer, Njd (cross checking), 3:17; E Desjardins, Phi (holding), 7:04; J Pandolfo, Njd (hooking), 15:09.
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Attendance: 19,537
Referees: Dan Marouelli, Marc Joannette.
Linesmen: Jean Morin, Lyle Seitz.
