Devils sweep season series with Penguins

Hockey Betting Lines

03/17/2010 - Newark, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Zach Parise and Patrik Elias each posted a goal and one assist as New Jersey completed a six-game regular-season sweep of Pittsburgh with a 5-2 decision at the Prudential Center.

Dainius Zubrus, Paul Martin and Rob Niedermayer also tallied for the Devils, who have won four of five and are tied for the Atlantic Division lead with 87 points.

By virtue of having one more win than Pittsburgh (42-41), the Devils assumed the second spot in the Eastern Conference.

Martin Brodeur stopped 24 shots for New Jersey, which has won six in a row over Pittsburgh for the first time since moving from Denver prior to the 1982-83 season.

Chris Kunitz and Ruslan Fedotenko scored for the Penguins, who have dropped three of four.

Marc-Andre Fleury allowed four goals on 13 shots over 30-plus minutes in the loss. Brent Johnson finished the game by stopping all five shots he faced.

Martin gave the Devils a 2-1 lead with a slick wrister inside the left post from the right wing with 1:42 left in the first period.

Fleury made a spectacular sweeping glove save on Travis Zajac's short-handed breakaway early in the second period. However, he was beaten seconds later as Elias broke away and stuck a forehander home at 3:09.

New Jersey took a 4-1 lead at 10:17 and chased Fleury as Parise finished off a ragged 4-on-2 rush by poking a loose puck home from inside the crease.

Fedotenko's right-circle shot at 5:23 of the third period brought the visitors within two, but the Pens failed on a late-game three-minute power play and Niedermayer hit the empty net with 1:13 to go.

Kunitz put the Pens on the board just over four minutes into the contest, and Zubrus equalized at 10:51.

Game Notes

Martin's goal was his first of the year, in his first game back since October 24 after surgery on a fractured left arm...Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin missed the game after suffering a foot injury while blocking a shot on Sunday. He is officially listed as day-to-day...The Devils wore red-and-green jerseys for the contest, honoring the color scheme the club wore from 1982 to 1992...The last sweep in the series between these clubs came when Pittsburgh swept a three-game series from the Devils during lockout-shortened 1995 season.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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