Devils 4, Penguins 1
Jaromir Jagr scored twice in the third period and Martin Brodeur made 27 saves to secure his 675th career victory and lead host New Jersey over Metropolitan Division-leading Pittsburgh.
Adam Larsson’s first goal in 722 days proved to be the game-winner and fellow defenseman Andy Greene also scored for the Devils, who bounced back from a 2-0 home loss to Los Angeles on Friday. Brodeur has won four straight starts and five of his last six.
Chris Kunitz netted the lone goal for the Penguins, who fell to 1-6-1 in their last eight trips to New Jersey. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 18 shots while starting for the second consecutive night.
Greene’s point shot deflected off a Penguin and bounced in with 19 seconds left in the first period. Kunitz tied the game 4:18 into the second, flipping the puck over Brodeur on a breakaway, but Larsson restored New Jersey’s lead with a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle with 1:38 remaining in the session.
Brodeur slid across the crease with his pad down to rob Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang on a power play midway through the third, preserving the Devils’ one-goal lead. Jagr snapped a shot past Fleury with 5:54 to play and added an empty-netter late in the period to seal the win.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Larsson scored his last regular-season goal on Nov. 26, 2011. … Kunitz led all players with seven shots. … The 41-year-old Jagr leads New Jersey with 16 points and has 688 career goals. He was drafted fifth overall by Pittsburgh in 1990.