NEWARK, N.J. – Travis Zajac and Patrik Elias scored in a shootout and Martin Brodeur made 37 saves and stopped four of five shooters to give the New Jersey Devils a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.

Brodeur made a sprawling stop on Andrew Shaw to end the contest and snap a two-game winless slide for New Jersey, which now has a four-point lead on Ottawa in the race for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Zajac, who returned to the lineup Sunday after sitting out with an Achilles’ tendon injury, snapped a shot over Corey Crawford for the winner in the shootout.

Patrick Sharp beat Brodeur between the legs on Chicago’s third try to send it to extra rounds. Defenseman Brent Seabrook tied the game for Chicago midway through the third period.

SABRES 5, CAPITALS 1: In Washington, Ryan Miller stopped 44 shots, Drew Stafford scored two goals and surging Buffalo climbed over Washington into the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

It was the fifth straight win for the Sabres, their longest streak since a six-game run in 2009-10. Buffalo was in 14th place on Feb. 17 before going on a 14-2-4 tear.

ISLANDERS 5, PENGUINS 3: In Pittsburgh, Frans Nielsen scored twice and New York won in Pittsburgh for the first time in more than four years.

Michael Grabner, David Ullstrom and Kyle Okposo also scored, and Josh Bailey had three assists to help the Islanders end Pittsburgh’s 10-game home winning streak with ease.

BRUINS 5, LIGHTNING 2: In Boston, Benoit Pouliot scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the third period, Zdeno Chara had three assists and surging Boston won its third straight game despite two goals by Steven Stamkos, who leads the NHL with 55. Tampa Bay’s three-game winning streak ended.

PANTHERS 3, CANADIENS 2: In Montreal, Wojtek Wolski scored in regulation and added the only goal of the shootout to help Florida boost its playoff hopes.

Mikael Samuelsson also scored in regulation for Florida, which outshot Montreal 36-29. The Panthers ended a three-game winless streak and completed a four-game sweep of the season series with Montreal.

RANGERS 3, WILD 2: In St. Paul, Minn., Ruslan Fedotenko’s go-ahead goal in the third period gave New York some more space in the tightened Eastern Conference playoff race.

Marian Gaborik also scored, frustrating the fans of his former team, and Brian Boyle had a goal for the Rangers.

BLUES 3, PREDATORS 0: In St. Louis, Brian Elliott made 24 saves for his third straight shutout and Jamie Langenbrunner broke a scoreless tie in the second period to lead St. Louis.

St. Louis, which improved to 30-4-4 at home, has an NHL-leading 105 points – two ahead of the New York Rangers in the battle for the President’s Trophy.

HURRICANES 3, MAPLE LEAFS 0: In Toronto, Cam Ward stopped 32 shots for his 21st shutout and Carolina eliminated Toronto from playoff contention.

Jussi Jokinen, Tim Brent and Jay Harrison scored goals for Carolina, which kept slim playoff hopes alive for one more day.