NEWARK, N.J. — Mackenzie Blackwood made 44 saves for the San Jose Sharks and earned his first shutout of the season in a 1-0 win against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Sunday.

It was the 11th shutout of Blackwood’s NHL career and his first against New Jersey, the team for which he played five seasons before being traded to San Jose on June 27, 2023.

Nico Sturm scored the lone goal to give the Sharks (5-9-2) a 1-0 lead at 16:21 of the first period. After taking a pass from Carl Grundstrom in the neutral zone, Sturm split two Devils players as he entered the offensive zone and lost the puck but was able to send a backhand from behind the net into the slot that deflected in off the left skate of Timo Meier.

Jake Allen made 26 saves for the Devils (10-6-2), who had won three in a row. New Jersey defeated the New York Islanders 4-3 in overtime at UBS Arena on Saturday.

Blackwood, who was making his first start in New Jersey since the trade, made 10 saves in the first. His best came against Jesper Bratt on a wraparound at the right post at 10:42.

Blackwood made 15 saves in the second, denying Justin Dowling from the slot when his shot hit Blackwood’s right pad and went off the left post at 10:56.

The Sharks appeared to take a 2-0 lead at 12:45 of the second when Fabian Zetterlund pushed a puck over the goal line at the right post. After a brief discussion by the officials, it was determined Zetterlund interfered with Allen by pushing his pad into the net.

Blackwood made 19 saves in the third period, including seven during a Devils power play after Mario Ferraro took a hooking penalty with 3:32 remaining.