Patrik Elias scores first of the season, Devils beat Senators 3-1

Elias scores, Devils beat Senators

NEWARK, N.J. — Niclas Bergfors, Patrik Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner scored goals, and Martin Brodeur made 24 saves to help the New Jersey Devils beat the Ottawa Senators 3-1 on Wednesday night.

Andy Greene assisted on both goals as the Devils ended a three-game losing streak.

Milan Michalek scored for the Senators, who had won four in a row — all at home.

A lucky bounce played a key role on Bergfors’ goal at 7:58 of the first period. Greene fired the puck into the Ottawa zone where it took a favorable carom off the end-zone glass, angling right to the slot where Bergfors deposited it behind Brian Elliott.

Michalek got his team-leading 11th goal for Ottawa at 12:34 to tie it 1. Jesse Winchester fired a shot from the left point that Michalek tipped past Brodeur.

The Devils reclaimed the lead at 2-1 when Elias scored with 1:26 left in the second.

Greene picked up his second assist with a wrist shot from the right point that Elias deflected for his first goal of the season and 296th of his career. Elias has been gradually working his way back into shape, having missed the first 13 games with a groin injury.

Then it was up to Brodeur to preserve the lead. He has a solid third period, denying Chris Kelly’s backhander and turning away Jarkko Ruutu’s bid from just outside out the crease.

Ottawa’s hopes for a comeback were snuffed out when Ruutu picked up a tripping penalty with 2:42 left. Langenbrunner then sealed the win with an empty-net tally

NOTES: After playing 15 of their 21 games at home, the Senators started a stretch in which they play 7 of 8 on the road. … C Mike Fisher, who scored the overtime winner Monday in Ottawa’s 4-3 win over Washington, missed the game with an upper-body injury. He joined starting goaltender Pascal Leclaire (broken cheekbone) as key Senators on the sidelines. Senators RW Alex Kovalev missed a third straight game, having returned to Russia following the death of his mother-in-law. Ottawa called up Mike Brodeur, a distant relative of the New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur, to backup Elliott. Senators … The Devils lengthy injury list includes C Rob Niedermayer (upper body, D Paul Martin (broken arm), D Johnny Oduya (lower body), C Dainius Zubrus (fractured knee cap) and LW Jay Pandolfo (shoulder). New Jersey assigned LW Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond to Lowell (AHL). … Sherry Ross became the first female broadcaster to provide play-by-play for a full NHL game. Ross, normally the Devils’ radio color analyst, filled in for Matt Loughlin who missed the game due to a death in the family.