Sports in brief

NHL

Four straight for Devils

Martin Brodeur made 18 saves for his 650th career victory and Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and two assists as host New Jersey topped Philadelphia, 4-1, yesterday. The Devils have won four straight and five of six to pull even with the fifth-place Flyers . . . James Neal had a goal and two assists as host Pittsburgh beat Boston, 5-2, for its ninth straight victory. Evgeni Malkin had three assists to move into the NHL points lead with 84 . . . Washington won its third straight as Michal Neuvirth got his third shutout of the season in a 2-0 victory over visiting Toronto. Neuvirth made 23 saves . . . David Perron broke a tie early in the third period and Jaroslav Halak made 33 saves to help NHL-leading St. Louis beat host Columbus, 2-1, for its season-high fifth straight victory.

TENNIS

Murray out in 1st round

Andy Murray tumbled out of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., in his opening match Saturday night, making 34 unforced errors and failing to convert any of his seven break chances in a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. Rafael Nadal, playing singles for the first time in six weeks, advanced to the third round Sunday with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Leonardo Mayer. On the women's side, top-ranked Victoria Azarenka got little resistance from Svetlana Kuznetsova, beating the Russian, 6-1, 6-2.

SOCCER

Red Bulls lose opener

Zach Loyd and Ricardo Villar scored to help FC Dallas beat the visiting Red Bulls, 2-1, in the MLS season opener for both teams. Villar's goal in the 61st minute gave FC Dallas a 2-0 lead. The Red Bulls' Kenny Cooper scored in the 78th minute. -- AP