Devils 2, Islanders 1: David Clarkson snapped a tie at 8:17 of the third period and visiting New Jersey ended a three-game losing streak in season openers.

Travis Zajac also scored and Martin Brodeur made 18 saves for the Devils, who improved to 18-7-5 in season-opening contests.

Defenseman Travis Hamonic scored for New York, which fell to 0-3-2 in its last five openers.

Hamonic tied the game when he received a pass from Michael Grabner and beat Brodeur high glove side on a power play. New Jersey regained the lead just 65 seconds later, however, as Clarkson's shot from the top of the right faceoff circle glanced off the skate of defenseman Brian Strait and past Evgeni Nabokov.

After a scoreless first period, New Jersey took the lead with six minutes remaining in the second as Zajac converted a saucer pass from Ilya Kovalchuk during a short two-on-one created by a bad line change by the Islanders.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Islanders were without coach Jack Capuano, who missed the contest due to medical reasons. The team did not disclose details, but Newsday reported Capuano has been suffering from kidney stones. Assistants Doug Weight and Brent Thompson guided the club in Capuano's absence. ... New York fell to 9-21-10 in season openers and 0-4-1 when beginning the campaign against New Jersey. ... New Jersey's Mattias Tedenby was assigned to Albany of the American Hockey League on Friday but recalled Saturday morning and added an assist.