Devils 1, Stars 0
Nick Palmieri scored the only goal and Johan Hedberg made 19 saves as the surging New Jersey Devils blanked the host Dallas Stars, 1-0, on Tuesday night for their eighth consecutive victory.
Hedberg posted his second shutout in three games and won his seventh straight start as the Devils improved to 16-1-2 in their last 19 games.
Palmieri supplied the only goal with 5:37 left in regulation, redirecting a knuckler by Ilya Kovalchuk past goaltender Kari Lehtonen to send the Stars to their fifth consecutive defeat.
Hedberg has allowed seven goals in New Jersey's last seven games as the Devils closed within nine points of Carolina for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
New Jersey defenseman Anton Volchenkov came up with one of the biggest plays of the game late in the second period, clearing a shot by Brian Sutherby off the goal line with the help of Hedberg's stick to keep the game scoreless.
Lehtonen made 22 saves.