A coaching change always affects the pecking order on a hockey roster. Under Pete DeBoer, David Clarkson’s spot on the Devils’ scoring table is upgraded, too.

In the past three games, Clarkson has scored the game-deciding shootout goal in Washington, opened the scoring in Boston, and added a victory-sealing insurance goal in Buffalo.

He has six this season, ho-hum on other teams, but tied with Zach Parise for second best, and only one behind Patrik Elias. He is among big names, and with these Devils, few things are as valuable as goals.

Still, Clarkson says he’s not altering his agitating, on-charging style, even if he is receiving significant power-play time under DeBoer, who also was his junior coach.

“I’m not going to pretend that I’m a goal-scorer,” Clarkson said. “I’m not going to get too far ahead of myself.”

There’s been less this season of the too-predictable inside drag-and-shoot move, less falling, and more scoring. Only 17 games into the season, he’s halfway to his totals of 12 and 11 the past two seasons, and his 2008-09 career high of 17 could be topped.

But that’s still a while ahead.

“During a season, you’re going to go through ups and downs as a player. Right now, they’re going in,” Clarkson said. “I do have to keep going to the net. Then try to fill the net.”

Clarkson is the Devils’ Iron Man, having played 119 straight games, very few of them quietly. He leads the Devils with 41 penalty minutes, and has captured that crown in three of the last four seasons.

Now he’s even threatening the team’s goal-scoring lead. Even at this early juncture, that’s not bad for another of Lou Lamoriello’s undrafted free-agent signings.

* Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers escaped supplemental discipline for his hit on Dainius Zubrus Wednesday. . . . Vladimir Zharkov was returned to Albany yesterday. . . . The Devils visit Tampa Bay tomorrow and Florida on Monday to complete a five-game (2-1) road trip.