Shootout win keeps Devils undefeated on road

David Clarkson scored the lone shootout goal in the fourth round of the tiebreaker and the New Jersey Devils extended their season-opening road winning streak to seven games with a 2-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

The run at the start of the season equals the second longest in NHL history, matching Toronto (1940-41), Philadelphia (1985-86) and Detroit (2005-06). Buffalo holds the league record of 10 in a row, set at the beginning of the 2006-07 season.

Travis Zajac scored in regulation for the Devils. Martin Brodeur stopped 18 shots, but had his bid to tie Terry Sawchuk’s NHL career shutout record of 103 end just under five minutes into the third period.

Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos scored in his fifth straight game and backup goalie Antero Niittymaki made 37 saves. The Lightning dropped to 4-0-3 at home.

Stamkos tied it at 1-1 from along the right circle boards at 4:34 of the third period.

Martin St. Louis assisted on the goal for his 600th career NHL point and extended his season-opening point streak to 11 straight games. St. Louis has 12 assists and 15 points this season.

Zajac put the Devils ahead, 1-0, on a rebound goal 50 seconds into the second period.

Niittymaki was superb during the first, stopping all 13 shots he faced.

He made a nifty glove save on an in-close chance by Cory Murphy, and turned aside Ilkka Pikkarainen’s shot during a two-on-one.

Niittymaki also made saves on a short-handed breakaway during a delayed penalty call and the ensuing penalty shot by Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner.

Tampa Bay had three shots in the first period and was outshot, 28-9, through two periods.