Coyotes upset Devils in New Jersey

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Martin Hansal contributed a goal and three assists to lift the last-placed Phoenix Coyotes to a 4-1 upset win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Fredrik Sjostrom had two goals and an assist and Radim Vrbota a goal and two assists as Wayne Gretzky's Coyotes overwhelmed the Atlantic Division leaders.

Phoenix is now 9-8 on the road but is still struggling in the standings because of a mediocre 5-8 home record.

"This was huge for us," Sjostrom told reporters.

The Devils lost for the third time in four games after winning nine straight, a run in which they have scored just six goals. The loss also snapped the Devils' five-game home winning streak.

Goaltender Mikael Tellqvist made his first start since November 12 a good one, losing a shutout bid when Zach Parise scored a shorthanded goal with six minutes remaining. The Coyotes already had a 3-0 lead at that point and Hansal sealed the victory with a shorthanded score with 2:50 left.

The Coyotes fired 38 shots at Martin Brodeur in the New Jersey goal.

"It's just a tough one. You try to forget it and move on," Brodeur said after playing for the 14th time in the last 15 games and giving up four goals for the first time since November 14. "They're a team that works hard," he added. "They're competing real well."

Sjostrom scored the only goal of the second period and the visitors took their 1-0 lead into the third. Vrbata then scored on one of eight Phoenix powerplays and Sjostrom, who had to be helped off the ice midway through the second period after a hit behind the net, scored again at the 9:08 mark for the 3-0 lead.

Parise then scored the first short-handed goal of his career to cut the deficit to 3-1, but Vrbata found a streaking Hansal with a high pass that Hansal gloved down before going in alone on Brodeur.

*Goalie Alex Auld made 32 saves for his fourth win in five starts with his new team, leading the Boston Bruins to a 2-0 home win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jeremy Reich scored his first NHL goal for the Bruins.

*Saku Koivu scored two goals and the Montreal Canadiens broke a six-game home losing streak (0-4-2) with a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

(Writing by Mike Shalin; Editing by Ed Osmond)