NEWARK, N.J. — On this night, the St. Louis Blues didn't have to be perfect in order to stay perfect under new coach Jim Montgomery.

In beating the Devils 3-0 on Wednesday night at the Prudential Center, the Blues returned home with wins in both of Montgomery's games behind the St. Louis bench. But the Blues escaped Newark after managing just one shot on goal in the second period and hung on to a lead that was built with three first-period goals.

Dylan Holloway scored twice, and Robert Thomas added another. Jordan Binnington made 32 saves to claim sole possession of the most wins in Blues franchise history with his 16th career shutout. It was his 152nd win, breaking a tie with Mike Liut.

At one point on Wednesday, the Blues went more than 25 minutes without a shot on goal, between Holloway's with 16:35 left in the second and Holloway's 9:13 into the third period.

The Devils entered Wednesday as the hottest team in the league, as their 8-2-0 record in the past 10 games was the best in the NHL.

“Tremendous speed, they transition well both ways,” Montgomery said before the game. “They’re committed to playing the right way, and it’s a team that you’ve got to be ready to check well. You’ve got to be ready to make them defend. You’ve got to try and make it a half-court game.”

Thomas in a flash

Maybe Thomas saw how fast teammate Nathan Walker scored last week and wanted to one-up him. Walker’s goal at 11 seconds last week against San Jose was the fastest one in the NHL so far this season. That is no longer the case, with Thomas’ goal coming just nine seconds into Wednesday’s game against the Devils.

Thomas finished a two-on-one chance with Pavel Buchnevich after winning the opening draw. New Jersey defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler vacated the blue line to pressure Jake Neighbours in the neutral zone, then Nico Hischier fell while trying to defend Buchnevich, leaving the Blues with an odd-man rush.

It was Thomas’ second goal of the season and first since returning to the lineup after a fractured ankle. Justin Faulk picked up the secondary assist, snapping a career-long 15-game pointless streak. It was just his second point of the season at five on five.

The goal was tied for the third-fastest in Blues history. Alexander Steen (March 16, 2010) and Greg Paslawski (Oct. 29, 1985) are the only players with faster goals for St. Louis, as each of them scored eight seconds into the game.

The Blues have now scored the two fastest goals this season and were involved in the third-fastest, when Michael Kesselring scored for Utah 18 seconds into its game against the Blues on Nov. 7.

Buchnevich injured

Buchnevich exited Wednesday’s game 9:36 into the second period after an awkward collision with Devils forward Paul Cotter and did not return. Buchnevich was tripped up by Cotter away from the puck and fell into the slot. When he skated to the Blues bench, he did not put any weight on his right leg and then limped down the tunnel to the St. Louis dressing room.

During the second intermission, the Blues announced that Buchnevich would not return to the game because of a lower-body injury.

The Blues have recently begun to get healthier, with Thomas back from a fractured ankle last week and defenseman Philip Broberg’s return potentially soon from a lower-body injury that has kept him out for the past 12 games.

Buchnevich struggled to produce earlier this season but had points during all three Blues games during their road trip.

Suddenly scoring

The Blues weren’t done after Thomas scored, as they scored three goals in the first period for the first time all season. Holloway got on the board twice, once with a well-placed shot at 6:23 after a Blues power play had just ended and again shoveling in a rebound around the crease with 3:55 remaining in the period.

Holloway’s first goal took advantage of a borderline too many men penalty on the Devils, as the Blues held the puck in the offensive zone after the minor expired. Holloway picked a corner on Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom but was helped when Siegenthaler created a domino effect by cross-checking Brayden Schenn, who then toppled Brett Pesce at the net front.

On his second goal, Holloway capitalized on a rebound spit out by Markstrom on Colton Parayko’s one-timer from the left wing. The puck looped in the air around the crease and then found Holloway.

For Holloway, he followed up Monday night’s two-assist effort against the Rangers with his second multi-goal game of the season.

Overall in the first period, the Blues outshout the Devils 10-7, but St. Louis owned the first eight shots on goal of the game. By the time New Jersey had a shot on goal, the Blues had already scored twice, and there were already two television timeouts.

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