Blues 2, Devils 0
NEWARK, N.J. -- Jake Allen made 24 saves to record his second consecutive shutout as the St. Louis Blues defeated the New Jersey Devils, 2-0, at the Prudential Center Tuesday night.
Allen, who made a career-high 45 saves in a 4-0 win over Nashville Saturday, registered back-to-back shutouts for the second time in his career. He also blanked the Devils last November after shutting out Anaheim.
Two former Devils players combined to give the Blues a 1-0 lead at 4:57 of the first period as right winger Martin Havlat scored his first goal of the season in his St. Louis debut with a snap shot high blocker side from the slot off a pass from center Scott Gomez.
Right winger Troy Brouwer also assisted on the goal by Havlat, who was signed to a one-year deal on Nov. 5.
The Blues (11-3-1), who won their third straight and sixth time in their last seven games, tacked onto their lead when left winger Magnus Paajarvi beat Schneider with a high snap shot from the right circle 3:28 into the third period. Center Alex Pietrangelo and right winger Dmitrij Jaskin assisted on Paajarvi's first goal since scoring against Nashville March 6, 2014.
Allen came up big twice midway through the third, denying center Sergey Kalinin's backhand from the crease and moments later making a pad save on a wrist shot in front of the net by left winger Mike Cammalleri.
Cammalleri was also denied on a backhand shot with 1:05 left in the third. The Devils thought they snapped the shutout in the final second, but defenseman Damon Severson's shot entered the net after time expired.
The Devils (8-6-1) head to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks Thursday at 8:30 p.m., while the Blues will meet the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden Thursday at 7 p.m.
NOTES: Former Devils G Martin Brodeur is making an unfamiliar return to the Prudential Center as the Blues assistant general manager. "It's always nice to come back," he said. "I can't wait to watch the game and see it on the other side. I never thought I was going to root against the Devils. Ever. But I will be tonight. I'm not playing so it's not as bad." Brodeur will have his No. 30 retired by the Devils on Feb. 9. ... RW Martin Havlat made his Blues debut against the Devils. He joined the team two weeks ago on a professional tryout and was signed to a one-year deal. Havlat has played in 788 NHL regular-season games, scoring 241 goals and 352 assists. He was with the Devils a year ago, playing 40 games. ... D Eric Gelinas (third straight game) and LW Stefan Matteau (seventh straight game) were healthy scratches, while RW Tuomo Ruutu (right foot fracture) and LW Patrik Elias (right knee) were also out for the Devils. ... D Robert Bortuzzo and RW Ryan Reaves were healthy scratches for the Blues, while C Steve Ott (upper body), C Patrik Berglund (shoulder), LW Paul Stastny (foot) and LW Jaden Schwartz (ankle) were also out.