EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Fans of the New Jersey Devils are missing some pretty good hockey.
John Madden set up a shorthanded goal by Jay Pandolfo before scoring for the first time in three weeks as the Devils extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games with a 4-1 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres.
Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta had the other goals for New Jersey, which improved to 8-0-2 since October 25. The Devils also are unbeaten in their last seven home games (6-0-1), although two of the last three wins have come in a half-empty Continental Airlines Arena.
"New Jersey fans are spoiled," Gomez said. "They wait for the big moments and then show up. But to their credit, tonight you can't blame them. The weather is pretty bad out there. They just probably stayed home and watched the game with their kids."
What they saw was Gomez putting New Jersey in front for good midway through the first period by tipping defenseman Scott Stevens' shot past goaltender Martin Biron.
Stevens also got an assist on Pandolfo's tally at 5:11 of the second and Gionta scored on a breakaway less than two minutes later for a 3-0 lead. Madden ended his eight-game drought at 10:35 off a 2-on-none break.
"It was a good win to keep the streak going and it was nice to personally pick up a few points," Madden said.
Biron was chased after allowing all four goals on 19 shots and had a personal five-game road unbeaten streak stopped.
"We're not the kind of team that's built to come from behind," Biron said. "I need to be the best player on the ice each game I'm out there, but today, I wasn't."
Martin Brodeur came within 14 minutes of his fourth shutout of the season before Daniel Briere scored Buffalo's lone goal. It ended Brodeur's shutout streak at 127 minutes, 6 seconds.
"We're doing a lot of good things right now and we're pretty happy about it," said Brodeur, who made 21 saves.
New Jersey coach Pat Burns wasn't happy. He said his team played the final 30 minutes on cruise control.
"I'm not saying I'm not happy with the win, but we didn't play well in the second half of the game," Burns explained. "If you want me to lie to you and tell you we played great, I'll lie to you. That's my job, to assess the team, and I'm telling you we took the second half off."
