PHOENIX, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Martin Brodeur grabbed a share of the league lead with his seventh shutout and rookie Michael Rupp scored the only goal he needed late in the second period Wednesday night as the New Jersey Devils handed the Phoenix Coyotes their fourth straight loss, 3-0.
Coming off Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Colorado and boyhood idol Patrick Roy, Brodeur had to make just 18 saves to tie Chicago's Jocelyn Thibault for the NHL lead in shutouts. He was not tested much but stopped Mike Johnson on a rebound midway through the third period and sprawled to get a piece of Branko Radivojevic's shot off a shorthanded 2-on-1 with 7:27 remaining.
Phoenix's best scoring chance came three minutes later when former Devils defenseman Deron Quint put a shot off the right goalpost.
By then, New Jersey was in total control with a three-goal lead. It outshot the Coyotes, 38-18, and avoided its first set of consecutive losses since a three-game skid from Dec. 12-18.
Rookie Jiri Bicek and Jeff Friesen also scored for the Devils, who remained one point behind Ottawa for first place in the Eastern Conference. Brian Boucher stopped 35 shots for Phoenix.
