EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Martin Brodeur recorded his 84th career shutout to tie Glenn Hall for third place in NHL history and the New Jersey Devils beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0 for their fourth straight win on Friday night.

Brodeur made 28 saves in posting his fourth shutout of the season and helping New Jersey improve to 11-1-1 at home. The 34-year-old’s best save was a sweeping glove stop on a power-play rebound attempt by Geoff Sanderson with 10:06 left in the second period and the Devils clinging to a 1-0 win.

Jamie Langenbrunner and Brian Gionta scored on the power play, while the Devils’ penalty killers blanked the Flyers on six extra-man chances. Mike Rupp missed empty-net chances twice in the final minute.

Philadelphia was a little off, playing their first game in six days and being without Peter Forsberg. The center is having a hard time finding a skate to support his surgically repaired right ankle and he expects to miss at least four games trying to find the correct equipment.

The Devils, who beat Montreal on Wednesday with an overtime power-play goal, needed just 29 seconds to convert their first chance against Antero Niittymaki at 3:37 of the first period.

All five New Jersey players on the ice touched the puck on the goal. Brian Rafalski started the rush and gave the puck to Scott Gomez. Gionta eventually took a shot from the right circle that Elias tipped and Langenbrunner scored his 10th goal on the rebound.

The Devils only needed 6 seconds to score after Ryan Potulny was sent off at 11:41 of the second period. Gomez won the draw and then tipped a point shot by Rafalski. Niittymaki made the save, but Gionta swatted the rebound into the net for his 12th goal, eighth on the power play.

Niittymaki finished with 22 saves, including a spectacular glove stop on Elias on a rebound during a first-period power play.

Terry Sawchuk is the NHL all-time leader in shutouts with 103. George Hainsworth is second with 94.

Notes: New Jersey is 3-0 against Philadelphia this season. The teams will play eight times. … Linesman Michel Cormier was cut above the left eye when he was struck by a clearing pass by Derian Hatcher that hit off the glass. … Elias has points in five straight games (3 goals, 3 assists). … The Flyers were 3-1-1 before their little vacation. Ironically, the only loss in that run came in the last game, a 4-3 shootout loss to New Jersey on Dec. 2.

AP-ES-12-08-06 2208EST

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