Martin Brodeur turned aside 29 shots as the host New Jersey Devils defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 in a Saturday matinee.

Brodeur was sharp from start to finish as he earned his 43rd career victory against the Penguins. His only blemish came on a Chris Kunitz power-play goal near the midway point of the third period.

The Devils gave him all the offense he would need with a pair of first-period goals.

Ilya Kovalchuk opened the scoring on a penalty shot at 14:43 - his 12th goal of the campaign - and David Clarkson extended the advantage with 24 seconds remaining in the period by banging home a rebound of a Patrik Elias shot with New Jersey on a power play.

Zach Parise added an empty netter with 49 seconds remaining as the Devils won for the seventh time in the last nine games.

Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 18 shots for the Penguins, who have lost two in a row following a four-game winning streak.