David Clarkson had a goal and an assist as the New Jersey Devils scored three times in the first period against Tim Thomas and held on for a 3-2 victory against the Boston Bruins Monday at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Clarkson took the shot that Rob Niedermayer deflected in and then scored on a breakaway -- set up by goalie Martin Brodeur -- to make in 2-0. Zach Parise finished the barrage that assured the Devils (41-24-3) their 18th consecutive .500-plus season.

Blake Wheeler scored for the third consecutive game to cut Boston's deficit to 3-1 at 43 seconds of the middle period, but the eighth-place Bruins failed to stretch their lead at the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Boston is one point ahead of the New York Rangers and has played one fewer game.

Patrice Bergeron made it 3-2 with 1:03 left after goalie Tuukka Rask was pulled for an extra skater.

New Jersey bounced back from a disappointing loss at the New York Islanders Saturday and won its third in a row at home. The Devils trail the Atlantic Division-leading Penguins by two points and play host to the Penguins Wednesday.

Brodeur made 34 saves for the Devils, 3-0 against Boston this season.

After a sloppy first 10 minutes that featured several turnovers and multiple stoppages, the Devils dominated the final half of the period and stormed to a 3-0 lead.

Niedermayer started it at 9:58 when he tipped in Clarkson's shot from the slot that was let go as he fell to the ice. Clarkson pushed the advantage to two with 2:47 remaining the period.

Brodeur fired a long pass from the crease past the red line and onto Clarkson's stick. Without breaking stride, Clarkson split a pair of defenders and skated in on Thomas. Shifting back and forth, Clarkson settled the puck on his backhand and slid in his eighth goal.

Clarkson, who missed 23 games from Dec. 31-Feb.13 due to a lower body injury, scored for the first time since Nov. 16.

His goal was still being announced when Parise made it 3-0 45 seconds later. Thomas stopped defenseman Mike Mottau's shot but couldn't control the rebound. Parise found the puck in front and backhanded in his 32nd goal. Parise was pointless in three of four games.

• Blue Jackets 5, Oilers 3: Antoine Vermette had two assists and scored the clinching empty-netter as Columbus added to Edmonton's road woes. The Oilers are 1-14-1 on the road since mid-December.

• Red Wings 2, Flames 1: Tomas Holmstrom scored his 20th goal of the season with 1:19 left in the third to give visiting Detroit a victory against Calgary.

• Two-time MVP Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals was suspended for two games because of a reckless hit on Blackhawks forward Brian Campbell. Ovechkin received a major penalty and a game misconduct in Sunday's game. ... Mike Modano, 39, of the Stars is out indefinitely after having surgery to remove his appendix.

The Devils' Rob Niedermayer (21) deflects a shot by David Clarkson into the net for a goal as Boston Bruins' Vladimir Sobotka looks on in the first period Monday in Newark, N.J. The Devils beat the Bruins, 3-2.

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