NEWARK, N.J., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Johan Hedberg made 28 saves against his former team Friday to bring the New Jersey Devils a much-needed, 3-1 victory over Atlanta.
The Devils halted a six-game losing streak and won for just the second time in 13 games played during December. With 22 points, New Jersey has by far the worst record in the NHL.
Mark Fayne and Jamie Langenbrunner scored in the opening 2 minutes of each of the first two periods to put the Devils in control.
Dustin Byfuglien brought Atlanta within one by scoring his 15th goal of the season with 7:46 to play but Ilya Kovalchuk answered 1:26 later with an unassisted goal.
Hedberg played four seasons with Atlanta before coming to New Jersey this year. The Devils are his fourth NHL team.
Chris Mason stopped 25 shots to take the loss. Atlanta has dropped five out of six.
During its six-game losing streak New Jersey produced one goal a game. The Devils did not score more than three goals in a game through all of December.
