OTTAWA (AP) - Scott Gomez scored the only goal of a shootout Tuesday night to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

After the teams played to a draw through overtime, it took a controversial goal in the NHL's new tiebreaker to snap the deadlock.

Gomez tried to deke Ray Emery on New Jersey's third shootout try but was stopped as the goaltender slid back into the net. The goal counted after a video review.

Martin Brodeur stopped Daniel Alfredsson to seal the victory.

Patrik Elias and Brian Gionta failed to score for the Devils, and Antoine Vermette and Dany Heatley missed for Ottawa.

Heatley scored twice in regulation to set a career high with 42 goals, including the equalizer with 30.5 seconds left in regulation and Emery on the bench in favor of an extra skater.

John Madden gave the Devils a first-period lead with a short-handed goal but Heatley netted his 41st of the season during a third-period power play.

However, Gionta took advantage of a failed clearing attempt by Senators defenseman Andrej Meszaros and beat Emery to reach the 40-goal mark for the first time in his NHL career.

Brodeur stopped 36 shots in regulation for New Jersey (36-27-9) to earn his 436th victory and move within one of tying Jacques Plante for fourth place on the league's career list.

It was just the second victory in six games and third in nine for the Devils, who moved into a tie with the idle Tampa Bay Lightning for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The top eight teams will qualify for the playoffs.

Emery finished with 33 saves in regulation for Ottawa (48-16-7), which lost for the second game in a row after recording four straight victories. The Senators moved three points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes atop the East.

The Devils went 1-for-5 on the power play. Ottawa finished 1-for-6.

The Senators lost defenseman Chris Phillips at the end of the first period when he twisted his left knee while trying to tie up New Jersey's Zach Parise. He didn't return to the game.

Ottawa is already reeling from injuries to defensemen Zdeno Chara (hand) and Anton Volchenkov (concussion), goaltender Dominik Hasek (groin) and forwards Mike Fisher (ankle) and Martin Havlat (shoulder).

Notes: Alfredsson had an assist to reach 400 for his career. ... Ottawa C Bryan Smolinski needs one more game to reach 900 in the NHL.