(My Sportsbook) - The Devils grabbed an early 1-0 lead on a Sergei Brylin goal with 9:12 remaining in the first period, and Martin Brodeur made it hold up by recording his 17th career playoff shutout, as New Jersey edged the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.

Brodeur made 24 saves for his fourth blanking of this postseason, which ties him with Anaheim's Jean-Sebastien Giguere for the NHL lead. Brodeur has a current shutout streak of 97 minutes and 58 seconds while improving to 10-3 this year and 77-51 in his playoff career.

Brylin's tally was his first point overall in these playoffs in eight contests, and his 11th score in his six-year postseason career. Brian Rafalski notched an assist on the play for his sixth point.

New Jersey improved to 7-0 at Continental Airlines Arena in these playoffs, and is the only team in the league to remain undefeated on home ice. The Devils can make that 8-0 with a win in Game 4 at the Meadowlands on Saturday.

The final score should have actually been 2-0, but the goal was never witnessed until it was too late. In the first period, Jay Pandolfo hit a one- timer that crossed the goal line, but the puck shot out of the net before anyone could react. Replays later showed that it was indeed a goal, but the puck had already been dropped and play had resumed. Pandolfo had scored in the first two games of the series.

New Jersey killed off both Ottawa power plays in last night's win and have stopped all 11 chances in the series. The Devils, though, have also failed to score with the extra skater in 11 opportunities through the first three games.

Jamie Langenbrunner is first on the team with 13 points (7g, 6a) but has not registered a goal in six games. John Madden is second with 12 points (5,7). Patrik Elias, who was the regular season scoring leader, has just one score in his 13 playoff contests.

The Devils are making their third conference finals appearance in four years, including a Stanley Cup championship in 2000. They defeated the Boston Bruins, 4-1, in the opening round and the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-1, in the semifinals to reach this point. This is the second meeting with the Senators in the postseason. Ottawa captured the 1998 opening round series four-games-to-two, including victories in all three contests on home ice. This matchup marks the first time that the top two seeds have met in the Eastern Conference Final since the playoff format changed in 1994.

New Jersey is appearing in the postseason for a franchise-record seventh straight year, and the 14th time in the past 16 seasons.