Devils-Bruins: Scott Clemmensen shines in 1-0 New Jersey Victory

It took Scott Clemmensen nearly five years to record his third career shutout but only four days for his fourth.

On Friday night, the Devils entertained the league-leading Boston Bruins at Prudential Center as they looked to bridge the gap in the standings. The Bruins came in looking to snap a two game losing streak against a Devils team which had won their last two.

Clemmensen was back in net for New Jersey after sitting out Wednesday's win against the Islanders after shutting out the Rangers on Monday. He was tested early and often by the Bruins who took advantage of terrible clears and giveaways by the Devils.

All 10 shots in the first period were stopped brilliantly by Clemmensen including a paddle save off a Bergeron rebound midway through the frame.

Tim Thomas equaled Clemmensen in stopping all five of the Devils shots including a spectacular glove save on the Devils leading scorer in Zach Parise.

The two would continue to outdo the other in the second with Thomas stopping Paul Martin on a clear breakaway.

Martin attempted to go five hole but Thomas somehow prevented in from squeezing through and fell onto the puck as Jamie Langenbrunner tried poking the non existent rebound.

Minutes later the Devils would win a face-off back to Bryce Salvador who would beat Thomas five hole on a bounce for just his third goal of the season.

Clemmensen would close the door on Boston's 13 shots in the period, including a rebound that was propelled by a falling Vladimir Sobotka shortly after Salvador's goal. The Bruins outshot the Devils 13-8 in the second period and 23-13 heading into the third.

Clemmensen would continue his effort fighting off better chances created off turnovers by the Devils. Thomas too kept his team in the game stopping the remaining five Devils shots.

Even with Thomas pulled the Bruins could not put one past the Devil keeper as the defense came up big with blocks as time winded down.

Clemmensen would earn his second straight shutout stopping all 31 shots earning him the first star of the game. The Devils are now a mere 10 points away from the Bruins in second place.

Having knocked off the best team in the NHL the Devils next game will be against the best team in the west as the San Jose Sharks and Claude Lemieux visit Prudential on Sunday afternoon at the rock.