NEWARK, N.J. _ Predictably, the Devils had trouble scoring without leading scorer Taylor Hall.
The Devils' lone All-Star missed the first of what the team hopes will just be a two-game absence because of a hand issue but even so brief an absence could be costly for the Devils, fighting to maintain a playoff position.
The Red Wings handed the Devils their fourth shutout of the season, 3-0, on Monday night at Prudential Center as the Devils went 0 for 5 on the power play.
The Devils (24-14-8), who have lost two straight and 2-5-3 since Dec. 29 remain in second place in the Metropolitan Division but are just three points ahead of the Rangers, who currently hold the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Cory Schneider, unable to start the past three games because of a stomach illness and unable to dress for two of them, made 27 saves for the Devils.
Backup Petr Mrazek, notching his third shutout in 14 appearances this season despite the 3.43 goals-against average and .894 save percentage he brought into Monday, made 37 saves for the Red Wings (19-20-7), who had lost four of their last five.
Mrazek made his best save by stretching to his right to rob Brian Boyle's power-play look at the crease at 3:09 of the third period.
Coach John Hynes also ruled Hall out for Tuesday night's game against the Bruins at TD Garden and Hall did not travel with his teammates to Boston after Monday night's game.
"It really is a short-term thing," Hynes said. "Hopefully, he's ready to go on Thursday [against the visiting Predators]."
Still a tough task against the Bruins _ 13-0-3 since Dec. 16 _ is made even tougher without Hall.
Hall did not participate in the Devils' practices on Friday and Sunday _ Hynes said Friday's absence was not because of his current hand issue _ but Hall did have an assist in Saturday's 3-1 loss at Philadelphia, to extend his point streak to seven games, matching a career high. Hall has 17 goals and 31 assists in 43 games.
The Devils do not believe Hall is in danger of missing this weekend's All-Star festivities in Tampa, Fla., including Sunday's three-on-three games. Hall has played for the winning division in each of the last two seasons, the Metropolitan last season for the Devils and the Pacific Division the year before with the Oilers.
If Hall is unable to participate, the NHL Hockey Operations Department is not obligated to pick another Devil as his replacement, though the league might lean that way.
Jimmy Hayes, a healthy scratch the previous 13 games, was re-inserted into the lineup with Hall unavailable. Blake Coleman, a healthy scratch the past three games, was back in with Brian Gibbons (hand) placed on injured reserve retroactive to Saturday.
"We have confidence in all our guys," Hynes said. "We've had numerous injuries through the year. This is part of the NHL season. It's about how the guys in the lineup perform."
The Red Wings took a 1-0 lead at 6:36 of the first period as Schneider used his right pad to kick away Dylan Larkin's backhander, only to have Tyler Bertuzzi knock in the rebound.
David Booth extended the Red Wings' lead to 2-0 at 18:12 of the second period with a slap shot from above the left circle that seemed to surprise Schneider as it flew over his right shoulder to the short side.
The Devils failed to convert on three, second-period power-play opportunities as they generated six man-advantage shots. Both Andy Greene and Kyle Palmieri hit the post in the period.
Dylan Larkin made it 3-0 at 11:02 of the third period on a blistering shot from the left that had to be video reviewed to make sure it actually entered the net.
