Edmonton, AB (SportsNetwork.com) – Cory Schneider started his 20th straight
game and made 29 saves for his second shutout of the season, lifting the New
Jersey Devils to a 2-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday.
Schneider surpassed Martin Brodeur for the longest start streak to open a
season in franchise history. Brodeur set the previous mark with 19 consecutive
starts from Oct. 6 to Nov. 2, 2001.
Adam Henrique and Tuomo Ruutu each scored and Eric Gelinas tallied two assists
for the Devils, who snapped a two-game skid.
Viktor Fasth made 24 saves for the Oilers, who lost their fifth in a row.
Edmonton received more bad news in the loss as forward Benoit Pouliot suffered
a broken foot while blocking Marek Zidlicky’s shot during the second period.
After a scoreless opening stanza, Steve Bernier hit Henrique with a stretch
pass through the neutral zone, and Henrique lit the lamp with a wrister
through the pads of Fasth off a breakaway 10:39 into the second.
Ruutu increased the Devils’ lead to 2-0 with a wrister over the shoulder of
Fasth and into the top right corner of the net with five minutes to play in
the middle frame.
The Oilers pulled Fasth with over a minute left, but were unable to get on
the board.
Schneider stopped 13 shots during the final stanza to keep his shutout intact.
Game Notes
Schneider registered his 14th career shutout … Brodeur holds New Jersey’s
record for consecutive starts with 44 during the 1995-96 season … Oilers
forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins played in his 200th NHL game … The Devils have
not allowed a power-play goal in five consecutive games … Forward Dainius
Zubrus played in his 500th game with the Devils.
