Montreal, QC (Sports Network) – Marty Brodeur used 29 saves to record the 112th shutout of his brilliant career and lead the New Jersey Devils to a 3-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre.
Jason Arnott posted a goal and an assist while Zach Parise and Matt Taormina also scored for the Devils, who won their second game of the young season (2-4-1).
“It has been a rocky start,” said Brodeur of the first handful of games for New Jersey this season. “The shutout is good, but all we need are wins.”
Carey Price allowed three goals on 20 shots for Montreal, which saw its two- game win streak halted and fell to 3-2-1 in the early portion of its 2010-11 slate.
Parise’s second goal of the season — a rebound marker from near the left post — opened the scoring 4:20 into the game.
“We were able to get goals for (Brodeur) tonight and we never really looked back,” said Parise. “We played smart with each line and we played well as a five-man unit in all zones.”
With 5:01 to play in the second period, the Devils moved ahead 2-0. Dainius Zubrus held control in the right corner near the base of the half-wall and slid a backhand pass to Arnott, who corralled the puck inside the near circle and lit the lamp with a wrist shot. Arnott’s third goal was also assisted by Jamie Langenbrunner.
As if a two-goal lead for the future Hall of Famer Brodeur was not good enough, the Devils sealed it with an insurance tally 3:38 into the final stanza on Taormina’s second goal of the campaign, which was assisted by Arnott.
The Habs peppered Brodeur for 14 total shots in the third.
“It was one of those games — it just seemed flat out there,” said Price. “We didn’t carry any momentum. That’s one (loss) that we’ll put behind us and look forward to and focus on the next game.”
This was the second shutout of the season for Brodeur…New Jersey has won seven of its last eight overall against Montreal and has also now captured five straight and nine of its last 11 trips to Bell Centre…Montreal was 0- for-3 on the power play, while the Devils failed on all four of their chances with the extra skater…New Jersey returns home to face Buffalo on Saturday before embarking on a six-game road trip…David Clarkson was slapped with nine of New Jersey’s 11 penalty minutes.