EDMONTON, Alberta, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Bobby Holik and Randy McKay scored second-period goals and Martin Brodeur came within 5:48 of his third shutout of the month Sunday night as the New Jersey Devils held on for a 2-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
The two-time defending Eastern Conference champions had just one win in their previous five games and were only two points ahead of last-place Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Division. But New Jersey extended its unbeaten streak at Skyreach Centre to 4
1.
Holik's power-play tally 4:47 into the middle period broke up a scoreless duel between Brodeur and fellow Olympian Tommy Salo. Edmonton's Ethan Moreau was serving a high-sticking penalty and former Devils defenseman Jason Smith lost his stick and was unable to clear a loose puck from the low slot.
Holik slid a backhander under Salo and off the base of the left goalpost for his third goal in as many games and 14th of the season.
Just over eight minutes later, McKay eluded a check in the neutral zone, skated down the right side and wristed a shot from the faceoff circle that hit Salo's right arm and trickled across the goal line. Three of McKay's four goals this season have come against the Oilers.
Brodeur and the Devils were in total control well into the third period. He sprawled and got up his glove to deny defenseman Sean Brown from point-blank range with 8:01 remaining.
But Edmonton came to life after defenseman Steve Staios was penalized for holding with 6:40 left. Less than a minute later, defenseman Janne Niinimaa flipped a shot from the left circle that Rem Murray deflected past Brodeur for his fourth goal.
Brodeur held on, however, finishing with 23 saves to improve to 5-4-2 lifetime against the Oilers.
