NEWARK, N.J. _ The Devils did everything they could playing real hockey to earn a point.
But Bruins goalie Anton Khudobin was just too good in the skills competition.
Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy finally lifted a backhand over Cory Schneider in the 11th round of the shootout as the Bruins won, 3-2, on Wednesday night at Prudential Center after the Devils had fought back from a two-goal deficit in the first period.
Only Taylor Hall, in the first round, beat Khudobin (40 saves) in the shootout for the Devils (12-5-4).
Schneider made 27 saves with David Pastrnak also scoring the second round of the shootout for the Bruins (9-7-4), who have won three straight with Khudobin allowing a total of four goals despite the Devils holding a 15-5 shot advantage in the third period.
The Devils announced prior to the game that top-line right wing Kyle Palmieri would miss four to six weeks after breaking his right foot blocking a shot in Monday night's 4-3 overtime win at Minnesota. Palmieri was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Monday.
"I think we've been a team that's dealt with it throughout the year so far and guys have come in and stepped in and played well," said center Travis Zajac, in his fourth game back in the lineup after surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle on Aug. 17. "I don't know how often you get a full lineup throughout the year. I think every team deals with it. We just have to make sure we come together. Guys are going to have increased roles."
The Devils have yet to play a game with all of their expected top-six forwards. In addition to Zajac and a previous injury to Palmieri, left wing Marcus Johansson missed his 10th game with a concussion.
Palmieri also missed six games from Oct. 27-Nov. 7 with an injured left ankle and missed the second game of the season with a left knee issue he suffered in the season opener. Palmieri, 26, has four goals and five assists in 13 games after tying Taylor Hall for the team lead last season with 53 points.
The Bruins killed off back to back penalties drawn by Nico Hischier in the third period, as Peter Cehlarik slashed him at the crease at 11:13 and defenseman Kevan Miller tripped him at the crease at 13:14.
But two seconds after the second power play expired, Brian Gibbons, with his team-leading 10th goal _ doubling his previous NHL career output of five goals _ redirected Damon Severson's point shot past Khudobin to tie the game at 2.
Wanting a fast start against a Bruins' squad also depleted by injuries but gaining confidence with wins in their final two stops on their California swing, the Devils got just the opposite.
The Bruins opened a 2-0 lead on Patrice Bergeron's goal at 11:02 of the first period as the center was left wide open in the slot with David Pastrnak bringing the puck up the ice on the right and Devils defenseman Will Butcher not leaving the crease to challenge the shooter.
