Recap: New Jersey vs. Pittsburgh

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Ilya Kovalchuk scored the game-winning goal with 6:10 left as the New Jersey Devils edged the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-2, on Thursday.

Travis Zajac and David Clarkson also scored for the Devils, winners in four of their last five contests. Johan Hedberg made 16 saves in the win.

"I don't think they were that desperate tonight. They were trying, but they weren't on top of their game," Kovalchuk said. "Still, we worked hard, and it was a good game overall."

Matt Cooke and Jussi Jokinen both tallied for the Penguins, who have already secured the top seed in the upcoming Eastern Conference playoffs. Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 stops in the loss.

Cooke scored 8:52 into the first period to give the Penguins a 1-0 edge. Hedberg stoned a Brenden Morrow shot from the left circle, and turned away Cooke's initial try on a rebound, but Cooke was able to get his second attempt to light the lamp.

Jokinen's tally with 5:59 left in the middle session put Pittsburgh up by two, but the Devils would counter with three unanswered goals.

Zajac beat Fleury with a snap shot in front with 1:27 left in the second. Patrik Elias found Zajac in the left circle. Zajac then skated to the middle of the ice before firing his seventh goal of the season.

Clarkson's power-play goal tied the game just over three minutes into the final frame.

On a 3-on-2 fastbreak, Steve Sullivan found Kovalchuk streaking down the right side. Kovalchuk took the pass and ripped a wrister past Fleury for the game- winner.

"We have to start playing now. How we're playing now is going to determine how we're playing in the playoffs," Penguins center Brandon Sutter said.