Tue Jan 8 22:02:43 2008

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Devils prevail in shootout

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Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Brian Gionta and Patrik Elias scored in the shootout, and Martin Brodeur made 23 saves as New Jersey topped Buffalo, 2-1, at the Prudential Center.

The first two shooters for both sides missed, before Ales Kotalik beat Brodeur with a backhander that he lifted over the netminder's stick.

Gionta countered with his goal, and after Brodeur made a stick save on Thomas Vanek, Elias swung wide coming out of the neutral zone, and from between the circles beat Ryan Miller with a hard wrister that rang off the inside of the left post.

Andrew Greene had the only tally in regulation for the Devils, who have won three of four. Brodeur also improved to 6-1-0 in his last seven starts overall, and 9-1-0 in his last 10 home starts against Buffalo.

Miller made 29 saves and Jason Pominville scored for the Sabres, who have lost seven straight to mark their longest skid since a six-game slide from March 18-27, 2006.

The Devils jumped on the board courtesy of a power-play goal with 3:37 remaining in the first period. Elias was the catalyst to the goal, as he slid a pass to Greene from the right circle that was easily one-timed over the blocker of Miller.

Both sides then combined for 14 shots in the middle stanza, with Brodeur stopping nine and Miller turning aside just five Devils' chances.

Buffalo tied it up with 1:47 left in the contest, after Clarke MacAarthur took a pass in the neutral zone, sped down the left wing and dished cross-crease to Pominville, who knocked it past a diving Brodeur.

Game Notes

The Devils have won five straight and 10 of 11 on home ice...These teams meet again Saturday in Buffalo...Miller is just 2-7-1 in 10 starts versus New Jersey...There were only four penalties in the contest. The Devils managed a power-play goal on three chances, while Buffalo was turned away during its lone chance on the man-advantage.