Devils 1, Stars 0
Cory Schneider turned aside all 26 shots he faced to record his 12th career shutout and Michael Ryder scored against his former team in the second period as New Jersey improved to 7-0-1 in its last eight home meetings with Dallas.
Travis Zajac and Ryane Clowe each notched an assist on Ryder's team-leading 15th goal as the Devils ended a three-game winless streak (0-2-1).
Kari Lehtonen finished with 33 saves for the Stars, who dropped their season-high four straight contest while being shut out for the first time this season.
A victim of a lack of offense throughout the campaign, Schneider made the most of the limited support to secure his third blanking in 2013-14. The Devils have scored just 11 goals in the 27-year-old's last seven starts (2-4-1).
After playing parts of two seasons with Dallas, Ryder continued his torrid stretch by netting the only goal of the contest at 8:17 of the middle period. Zajac skated along the end line before his centering feed found an unmarked Ryder, whose one-timer from the slot sailed past Lehtonen for his third goal in as many contests.
GAME NOTEBOOK: New Jersey assigned D Adam Larsson to Albany of the American Hockey League on Thursday. Larsson is trying to work his way back from a knee injury he suffered on Nov. 23. ... The Devils killed off all three short-handed situations - including a four-minute high-sticking penalty in the second period - after yielding three power-play goals in their last two contests. ... Dallas LW Ryan Garbutt registered his team's first shot on goal at 10:02 of the first period.