After taking a four goal lead in the third period, the Devils looked to have their game against the Sharks won and their six-game road losing streak over.

But the Sharks came roaring back, scoring three goals in 2:46 seconds, and the Devils held on and defeated the San Jose, 4-3, tonight at HP Pavilion.

Devils center Travis Zajac’s goal at 5:44 of the third period extended the Devils lead to four goals. Jamie Langenbrunner started the play in his own zone, intercepting the puck. He sent a pass to Zach Parise in the neutral zone. Parise carried the puck and sent a pass cross-ice to Zajac. The winger fired a shot from the right circle that beat Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabakov stick side for Zajac’s 20th goal of the season.

Zajac’s goal total equals his career high, which he set last year.

The Sharks answered back, with Devin Setoguchi leading the charge. The right-winger scored his first goal at 8:46 of the period. Joe Thornton passed the puck to Setoguchi, who was left alone in the slot. Setoguchi beat Devils’ goalie Martin Brodeur low on the stick side for the goal.

Setoguchi added his second goal of the period 1:49 seconds later. With Dean McAmmond in the box for tripping, Sharks defenseman Rob Blake fired a shot from the point. The rebound came to the left circle, where Setoguchi beat Brodeur for the goal.

The Sharks brought the lead to one with a Joe Pavelski goal at 11:32 of the period. After Sharks center Manny Malholtra caused a turnover, Pavelski picked up the puck behind the net. The forward came to the front of the net and slide the puck behind Brodeur for his 17th goal of the season.

After a scoreless first period, Devils center Dainius Zubrus scored the first goal 11:13 to give the Devils the lead. Devils defenseman Colin White began the play by causing a turnover in his zone. He passed the puck to Ilya Kovalchuk, who skated the puck to the slot. He backhanded a pass to Patrik Elias, who put on a quick shot from the left circle. Nabakov made the save, but the puck trickled through his pads and laid on the crease. Zubrus crashed the net and pushed the puck in for his sixth goal of the season.

Mark Fraser extended the lead to two goals 35 seconds later. David Clarkson curled at the goal line and sent the puck to defenseman Anssi Salmela. Salmela passed the puck cross-ice to Fraser, who one-timed the shot. The puck deflected off of San Jose’s Scott Nichol and beat Nabakov glove side.

Kovalchuk extended the lead to three with a powerplay goal late in the third. With Malholtra in the box for hooking, Zajac won the faceoff and passed it to Parise. Parise sent the puck to the point, and Kovalchuk skated to the center of the point. He sent a shot on net that deflected off of Sharks defenseman Rob Blake and into the net.

The powerplay goal was the first for Kovalchuk as a Devil.

Brodeur finished with 17 saves in the win. Nabakov stopped 22 pucks in the loss.

With the win, the Devils snapped a six-game road losing streak. They continue their three-game Western road trip Friday in Calgary.

Game Notes:

Clarkson, who returned from a 23 game absence, had an assist in the win. The Devils right-winger also had words with Sharks right-winger Brad Staubitz in the second period, although nothing came from it…Both Langenbrunner and Parise received applause for their silver medal effort in Vancouver…The Sharks remain one of three teams Brodeur has never shut out.