NEWARK, N.J. — Jonathan Toews scored the only shootout goal and Antti Niemi made 32 saves as the Chicago Blackhawks moved a step closer to the Central Division title with a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.
Niemi had to make only one save during the shootout, but it was a magnificent pad stop on Zach Parise after Toews beat Martin Brodeur with a wrist shot on Chicago’s first shot.
Jamie Langenbrunner never got his shot off, and Ilya Kovalchuk missed the net with a backhander as the Devils lost their third straight. New Jersey still moved into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division with idle Pittsburgh.
Kris Versteeg scored the tying goal for Chicago with 26 seconds left in regulation when his shot from the edge of the right circle hit the skate of Devils defenseman Mike Mottau and went between Brodeur’s legs.
Kovalchuk scored his 40th of the season in the first period.
There were no penalties called in the game. It was the first penalty-free game in Devils history, the team said, and the first in the NHL since March 28, 2001, when Boston faced Toronto.
Brodeur and the Devils were on the verge of a 1-0 win that would have given the goalie his 109th career shutout before Versteeg tied it.
Chicago pulled Niemi with a little over a minute to play, and the Blackhawks kept the puck in the Devils’ zone for about 20 seconds. Versteeg’s shot hit the tip of Mottau’s skate and went in.
