Penguins 1, Devils 0 (SO)
James Neal was the shootout hero for the second time in less than a week as the Pittsburgh Penguins edged the New Jersey Devils 1-0 Friday night, moving closer to clinching a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
In a game with few scoring chances, Neal finally broke the deadlock in the third round of the sudden death format, beating Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur with a nifty move from in close. Patrik Elias had a chance to extend the shootout but his shot was stopped point-blank by Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury, who made 21 saves in regulation and overtime for his third shutout of the season, and 19th of his career.
The win leaves Pittsburgh (44-23-8) on the verge of clinching a postseason spot, while moving it within two points of Philadelphia atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Brodeur made 26 saves in defeat for the Devils (34-35-5), earning his sixth shutout of the campaign and the 116th of his Hall of Fame career.
The teams played a listless first period in which only four shots were taken – three by the Penguins and one by the Devils. Things picked up in the second, where Pittsburgh outshot New Jersey 13-9 but neither team could solve the opposing netminder.
The Devils had the best chance to convert with two power plays in the latter half of the third period, but they managed just two shots on Fleury in that four-minute span.