NEWARK, N.J. — Travis Zajac had a goal and an assist, and Cory Schneider made 26 saves, but Jaromir Jagr called unheralded Jordin Tootoo the star of the game for the struggling New Jersey Devils.

Tootoo didn’t figure in the scoring as the Devils beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 on Monday night. However, Tootoo contributed with his fists, twice fighting Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo in the second period to exact a measure of revenge while providing a needed spark.

To an extent, the bouts were preordained. Bortuzzo was a marked man after delivering a big hit on Jagr in the teams’ previous meeting. The NHL determined the infraction was excessive and suspended Bortuzzo for two games.

This was the Devils chance to seek on-ice justice, and Tootoo took the challenge.

“He was the No. 1 star, for sure,” Jagr said. “He changed the game. Everybody knew it was coming. It’s not an accident that after his fights we scored goals. It was perfect timing, and we took advantage of that.”

Tootoo knew what his task would be.

“I wasn’t going to let him off the hook,” Tootoo said. “That’s part of my job, to create energy and emotion. I couldn’t have done it without the confidence of my teammates.”

The first fight was a draw, but Tootoo scored a decisive knockdown in the rematch.

“He did a great job for us,” Zajac said. “He’s a guy who comes to the rink every day, works hard and knows his role. Not many guys want to do what he does.”

Jagr and Adam Henrique also scored for New Jersey, who won for only the second time in 10 games (2-5-3).

It was also New Jersey’s first win in two games since general manager Lou Lamoriello fired coach Pete DeBoer on Friday and joined new coaches Scott Stevens and Adam Oates behind the bench as part of a three-man committee.

Sidney Crosby scored for the Penguins, who have lost four straight. Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves.

Swinging around defenseman Andy Greene, Crosby whipped a backhander under the crossbar to make it 1-0 at 14:37 of the first period. It was just the second goal in 13 games for the star center.

The Penguins outshot the Devils 9-7 in the first.