The New Jersey Devils beat San Jose 3-2 in East Rutherford, condemning the reeling Sharks to their fifth consecutive loss.

The Devils scored three second-period goals 10 minutes apart to erase San Jose's opener. The win was New Jersey's fifth in six games and third in a row.

Martin Brodeur made 30 saves to record his NHL-leading 33rd win of the season, while Sharks backup Thomas Greiss stopped 17 shots in place of Evgeni Nabokov in his third NHL appearance.

New Jersey coach Brent Sutter told reporters Brodeur was the difference.

"Marty made some big saves for us and we gave ourselves a chance to win," Sutter said. "We were down one and battled hard to get a lead. We found a way."

Greiss was disappointed he did not make more of his opportunity.

"I gave up a couple of soft goals," Greiss said. "I have to be more ready when I get a chance to play."

Jonathan Cheechoo put the Sharks 1-0 up with a powerplay goal less than a minute into the second period but the Devils roared back on goals by Zach Parise, John Madden and Sergei Brylin.

Kyle McLaren got San Jose back to 3-2 with 6:06 left in the third period but Brodeur stood his ground to help the Devils move into a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference standings with Ottawa and Montreal.

It was the fourth successive loss on the road for the Sharks.

The New York Islanders won their season-high fifth game in a row with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Washington Capitals. Mike Comrie had the lone goal of the shootout.

Thomas Vanek scored three consecutive goals, including the winner at 2:25 of overtime, lifting the Buffalo Sabres past the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3.

The Sabres moved into a three-way tie for seventh place in the Eastern Conference with Boston and Philadelphia with the win.

Corey Perry scored the lone goal of the shootout as the Anaheim Ducks beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2.

Nikolai Khabibulin posted his first shutout in almost year, making 38 saves in a 3-0 win over the Minnesota Wild.

Reuters