Ryane Clowe and Adam Henrique scored for the Devils in regulation, but the team fell to 0-9 in shootouts this season and extended its NHL-record streak to 13 straight shootout losses dating to last season with a 3-2 loss to the Coyotes at Prudential Center.
While the Devils picked up a point, they are currently four points out of the playoff picture with nine games to go and a few teams to hurdle in the standings.
“It’s a big part of the reason the playoffs are getting tougher and tougher to reach,” said Martin Brodeur, who finished with 25 saves. “So many points we’ve left on the table through the year. I figured we were due. It’s been a while, we haven’t been in one. I was feeling good about it mentally. I thought we were going to pull through this one and boost our confidence a little bit knowing we’re able to do it, and again it was the same old thing.”
New Jersey appeared to be in trouble when Summers scored with 3:03 left in the second period to give the Coyotes a 2-0 lead.
The Devils got back in the game with a little luck after Phoenix was called for a delay penalty in the final minute of the period. Brodeur scrambled to the bench and Clowe scored with less than a second left as he lay in the crease. The big left wing was cross-checked by Jeff Halpern, and defenseman Jon Merrill’s pass through the crease caromed off his chest and slid past Greiss.
Henrique tied the game midway through the third period, taking a pass from Patrick Elias and beating defenseman Michael Stone with a move behind the net for his team-leading 24th goal.
Thomas Greiss stopped all three Devils shootout attempts and Mikkel Boedker scored on the Coyotes’ first try.