Zubrus set up Ilya Kovalchuk’s goal in the first period and scored along with Brian Rolston in the second to give the Devils a seemingly comfortable 3-0 lead.
Ryan Callahan and Vinny Prospal, in his season debut after recovering from offseason knee surgery, got the Rangers close, but Brodeur hung on for the Devils (18-30-3), who moved one point ahead of Edmonton and tied the Islanders.
“We are confident now in how we’re playing, but we’re still pretty far down,” Rolston said.
The Devils, outshot 27-18, lost the first three meetings this season to New York and were outscored 9-2.