OTTAWA -- Opportunity knocked for Zack Smith when he was elevated from a checking to scoring line in the absence of a suspended teammate.

The Ottawa Senators winger answered with a goal and an assist in Saturday's 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils at Canadian Tire Centre.

"My game doesn't change, but when you move up with guys like that, there is an obligation to put up points," said Smith, who played on a line with Derick Brassard and Mark Stone while Mike Hoffman served the first contest of his two-game suspension for a cross check on San Jose's Logan Couture on Wednesday. "I'm just glad we found a way to contribute."

Brassard scored what turned out to be the winning goal when he deflected a Smith shot past Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid early in the second period.

"I'm tracking it right into my chest and he gets the slightest bit on it and it goes right where my glove would be," Kinkaid said. "A good deflection by him. He brings a net presence. That was the deciding one, I guess."

Smith added the empty net insurance marker with 14 seconds to go in the third.

"Missing Hoff in the lineup, we needed some guys to step up," Senators coach Guy Boucher said. "Smitty played one of his best games I think. I thought he did a great job."

The goal was the fifth of the season for Smith, who scored 25 last season. Brassard, who had 27 last season with the New York Rangers, also has five.

Bobby Ryan had the other Ottawa goal, his fifth.

John Moore scored the only Devils goal. It was his fifth.

Mike Condon made 29 saves in the Senators net while Kinkaid stopped 28 shots.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Senators (17-11-3) while the Devils (12-12-6) went down to defeat for the fifth time in a row.

"We played the way we wanted to play," Devils coach John Hynes said. "We played a tight game defensively. We had tons of opportunities to put the puck in the net. We out chanced them 2-1.

"Tonight was another step in the right direction. You watch the game, you saw the way we skated, the attention to detail we played with, guys sticking for each other. It was a more consistent 60 minutes of play. That's what we talked about as a group is continuing to be able to do that."

Both teams were 0 for 1 on the power play.

"Like everyone saw tonight, there was not a lot of special teams out there," Brassard said. "It was a really tight 5-on-5 game."

Ryan gave the Senators a 1-0 lead when he scored his second in two games, a shot by Chris Kelly that deflected off his pad. Moore tied it up with a shot through a maze of bodies that beat Condon between the legs.

Earning an assist on the play was Mike Cammalleri, who brought his career point total to 600.

"When you hit certain kind of milestones, I just hit 800 games, 600 points, it gives you a moment to reflect," Cammalleri said. "I'm a romanticist when it comes to sport. For me, it makes me think of all the people who support you and all the time you've enjoyed playing this game. It's only a moment really of reflection because you get right back to trying to win a hockey game with your team."

The Senators laughed in the face of danger when defenseman Mark Borowiecki had a skate blade break on him while the Devils were pressing for the equalizer in the third. Every time Borowiecki tried to stand, he fell back down.

"We were trying to keep a straight face, but after four or five times the guys on the bench started to making fun of him," Brassard said. "They were like circling around our net, so we were a little scared for a bit. We like Boro with two blades on, that's for sure."

Borowiecki figured he couldn't risk trying to get to the bench.

"When you're in the middle of a play it's a little tough to make that decision," he said. "You're kind of in survival mode the whole time. I'm pretty sure I have two bruised hip bones right now from falling so much.

"It wasn't really an enjoyalbe experience. I'm just glad nothing came of it.''

Both teams headed to the airport after the game, heading for the second of back-to-backs on Sunday. The Senators visit Brooklyn to play the Islanders while the Devils will be at Madison Square Garden for a game against the Rangers.

NOTES: Ottawa D Mark Borowiecki was back in the lineup after serving a two-game suspension. ... Senators D Ben Harpur was scratched. ... Senators G Craig Anderson is still away on personal leave. ... Devils F P.A. Parenteau was scratched for the second game in a row. ... New Jersey F Beau Bennett was also scratched for the second straight contest. ... Devils C Pavel Zacha was scratched for the first time this season.