First Period
Even before the puck dropped the team announced that Andreas Johnsson would be out of tonight’s lineup. Arizona would strike first on the game’s first shot. It was less than two minutes in the first period as Travis Boyd got his 14th of the season, assisted by Nick Schmaltz and Nick Ritchie.
Shortly after, Arizona would get the game’s first power play. Michael McLeod went off for interference at the 2:44 mark. The Devils were able to escape without Arizona scoring.
The Devils would get the game’s next power play as Dysin Mayo went off for a high sticking call. New Jersey hadn’t scored on their last 14 power-play attempts and Arizona has a league-worst penalty kill. Despite some great chances during the first half of the man advantage, New Jersey couldn’t get one passed Karel Vejmelka.
Fabian Zetterlund would get his first NHL goal on the game’s equalizer. Nico Hischier skated the puck into the Coyote’s zone and made an absolutely amazing pass to Zetterlund. He now has three points in the past two games. Yegor Sharangovich and Hischier picked up assists.
Arizona would head to the power play for the second time in the period after Tomas Tatar took an interference call. The Devils struggled to contain the Coyotes until Boqvist was able to fire off a soft shot on a short-handed attempt Boqvist wouldn’t score, but neither would Arizona as Tatar left the box.
Second Period
The Devils would get their second power play of the game, and the first of the period, as Andrew Ladd took a hooking call. Vejmelka would make saves on Dawson Mercer and Jesper Bratt rebounds, although there was a question if his glove hand crossed the net. It appeared as if the call would be reviewed, but after a brief delay play continued. New Jersey was once again scoreless in the man advantage.
Former Coyote Kevin Bahl scored the go-ahead goal for the Devils with a blast from the blue line to make it 2-1 for New Jersey. It was Bahl’s first career NHL goal. The only assist went to Nathan a Bastian.
The Devils would get their third power play of the game as Nathan Smith took the game’s third interference call. This was also Smith’s first NHL game after ending his college career. Just like their previous two attempts, the Devils could not score once again.
As the second period began to wind down, Ty Smith took a slashing call to give Arizona their second power play of the game. Schmaltz would score to even the score at two goals a piece as Nick Ritchie screened Nico Daws. It was Schmaltz second point of the night and assist would go to Shayne Gostisbehere and Matthias Macceli. New Jersey would answer back almost immediately after a failed clearing attempt lead to a Tatar goal from a Jesper Bratt pass. New Jersey would restore the one-goal lead.
Less than twenty seconds later, New Jersey would add yet another goal. P.K. Subban held the zone and shot the puck on net. Jesper Boqvist would them score from the top of the crease. New Jersey needed the period with a 4-2 lead.
Third Period
Penalties have been a common theme in this game and New Jersey was sent to the box for the fourth time. Ty Smith took his second penalty of the game, this time for high sticking. After giving up a power play goal on their last penalty kill attempt, New Jersey would escape this one without any extra damage on the scoresheet.
Kyle Capobianco took a tripping penalty to give New Jersey their fourth player play of the night at the midway mark of the third period. New Jersey had their best showing on the man advantage, with the puck only leaving the offensive zone a handful of times. Yet again New Jersey was unable to score a goal as their power play worries continue.
Sharangovich would get his 21st goal of the season as time was running down. Zetterlund and Hischier would pick up an assist, giving each of the trio a two-point night. Sharangovich would go on to add yet another goal, his 22nd of the season. Bahl would get his second point of the night with an assist. Ty Smith and Michael Carcone would trade incidental minors for tripping and embellishment, putting each team at four on four. Time would expire with New Jersey on the power play after Nick Ritchie as sent off for a roughing call with the final score of 6-2.
New Jersey would pick up their second straight win to open up their West Coast road trip. Nico Daw also became the winningest Devils goaltender of the season. His victory in Arizona was his 10th win of the year.