Schneider helps Devils beat Oilers 2-0

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Cory Schneider made 29 saves in his second shutout of the season, leading the New Jersey Devils to a 2-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night.

Adam Henrique and Tuomo Ruutu scored for the Devils (9-9-2), who won for the third time in their last nine games. Eric Gelinas had two assists, and Schneider recorded his 14th career shutout.

The Oilers (6-12-2) have lost five in a row for the second time this season.

New Jersey jumped in front in the second period when Henrique got a partial breakaway, shrugging off defender Justin Schultz before putting the puck through Viktor Fasth's legs for his fifth of the season.

Ruutu made it 2-0 with five minutes left in the second, beating Fasth with a shot from the middle of the left face-off circle.

New Jersey outshot Edmonton 19-8 in the second. The Oilers also forward Benoit Pouliot to an injury in the period when he departed after blocking a shot.

Fasth finished with 24 stops.

Edmonton had an opportunity to get back into the game early in the third when Marek Zidlicky took a double minor for high-sticking Nail Yakupov in the face, but the Oilers were unable to get anything going on the extended man advantage.

The Oilers also had a prime scoring opportunity in the first when Pouliot beat Schneider with a deke, but he lost control of the puck before he could put a backhand shot into a wide-open net.

Both teams play again on Saturday. The Oilers close out a five-game homestand against Chicago, and the Devils travel to Calgary to face the Flames.

NOTES: It was the first of two meetings between the teams this season. They split two games last season, each winning on home ice. ... Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins played in his 200th career NHL game. ... Schneider made his 20th consecutive start, setting a New Jersey record for starts from the beginning of the season. Martin Brodeur started the first 19 games of the 2001-2002 season. Brodeur holds the team record for consecutive starts with 44, accomplishing the feat at the end of the 1995-96 season. ... The Oilers adjusted their top line for the start of the matchup, moving Pouliot up to play with Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle, while Taylor Hall started the game with Leon Draisaitl and Teddy Purcell. ... Oilers defenseman Mark Fayne played his first game against his former team after signing with Edmonton as a free agent last summer. Fayne spent his first four seasons with the Devils. ... Out for the Devils were Ryane Clowe (concussion), Jon Merrill (arm) and Bryce Salvador (lower body).

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