New Jersey getting strong goaltending

--The Devils have allowed two goals in the last two games and 12 during a five-game winning streak that has carried them all the way up to fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

They are actually tied with the Penguins but have a game in hand, and they're two points behind the Flyers for fourth place.

"I think we're trying to shake off people around us more than anything," goalie Martin Brodeur said. "I think short term, we're looking at people in front of us. I don't think we're looking at the top teams yet.

"Even though we're playing well against them, I don't think we're there yet. It's a work in progress. I think guys are feeling it, but to do it is a different animal. We're taking strides towards being more of an elite team, but it's going to take a little more efforts like the one today."

--The Devils picked up their 31st victory of the season Tuesday night. Last season, win No. 31 came on March 11, and they won only 34 all season.

--New Jersey is 2-1 with two wins in a row against the Rangers and the Devils still have three games left with their rivals.

--Tuesday night's game started with a pair of fights just two seconds in, with the Devils' Eric Boulton and Cam Janssen fighting Michael Rupp and Brandon Prust. It was Janssen against Rupp, even though it was Boulton who was fined $2,500 for slashing Rupp and hurting his thumb Jan. 31.

"I challenged him," Janssen said. "I said to him, 'How's the hand?' He said, 'It feels good.' I said, 'Want to do it?' He said yes. Simple as that. That's what we do."

Said right wing David Clarkson: "Those two guys aren't fighting for fun. Boults and Janny did unbelievable jobs. They got our bench going right away. I think that's one of the hardest jobs in hockey. People always say fighting this and fighting that, but that showed it right there. Those guys weren't fighting for each other or for themselves. They were fighting for the team and to set a tone."

QUOTE TO NOTE
"You always get the sense when Marty (Brodeur) and (Henrik) Lundqvist play each other, you can see that they want to out-do each other. Ninety-nine times out of 100, it's a great goaltending battle and it was again tonight. Marty was great. He made huge saves and really got us that win." -- LW Zach Parise, after Tuesday night's 1-0 win over the Rangers.

Copyright (C) 2012 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.