The New Jersey Devils (30-19-6) picked up a 3-2 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins (22-24-9) on Tuesday night. Jack Hughes scored twice to give the early 2-0 lead, but the Penguins battled back to force overtime. Nico Daws picked up the win in his first start of the season.
With the win, the Devils moved to 2-0 against Pittsburgh this season and bounced back from a loss to Buffalo on Sunday. The Devils are now just two points behind Carolina for second in the Metropolitan Division.
Game Summary
First Period
Nico Daws got his first start of the season after stopping all nine shots he faced in relief on Sunday.
Unfortunately for New Jersey, the first noteworthy play came when Jonas Siegenthaler lost an edge and fell awkwardly into the boards. His right leg appeared to be caught underneath him as he fell and he was assisted off the ice by a trainer. He would not return.
In the latter half of the period, things began to pick up, with Pittsburgh drawing the game’s first power play after Brett Pesce high-sticked Sidney Crosby. The Penguins had a good amount of zone time, but the Devils held them to just one shot on net.
Pittsburgh got another power play with three minutes left in the period after Curtis Lazar was called for interference. On this power play, the Penguins were much more dangerous, but Nico Daws came up with five saves to kill the penalty. That did not include a Rickard Rakell goal that was immediately waved off due to a kicking motion.
Jesper Bratt also had a shorthanded chance, but his breakaway was stopped by Alex Nedeljkovic.
Then, with just 16 seconds remaining in the period, Ondrej Palat threw a puck toward the net that was ultimately stashed home by Jack Hughes. Hughes’ 22nd goal of the year made it 1-0 Devils after one.
Shots in the first were 9-6 Penguins. The Devils put up a 53.57 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and a 53.53 expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) at five-on-five.
Second Period
The Devils got their first power play of the night four minutes into the period. Justin Dowling was cut by a high-stick, resulting in a double minor and a four minute man advantage.
Timo Meier came the closest of any Devil when he ripped a shot off the crossbar. Pittsburgh completed the kill, holding New Jersey to just two shots on goal.
Less than a minute after the double minor, Erik Haula and Cody Glass took coincidental minors while Haula was driving the net.
New Jersey took advantage during that four-on-four, though. Jack Hughes won an offensive zone draw against Sidney Crosby and drifted into the slot. Jesper Bratt immediately found him and Jack ripped home a one-timer for his second of the night, making it 2-0 Devils midway through the second period.
Pittsburgh finally got on the board with five minutes left in the period. Rickard Rakell picked up a rebound at the side of the net and stashed a wrap-around at the other post to make it 2-1.
It remained 2-1 New Jersey after two. In the second, shots were 9-8 Devils, who also posted a 35.00 CF% and a 23.24 xGF% at five-on-five.
Third Period
Early in the third, Sidney Crosby left with an injury after an awkward collision in between Erik Haula and Luke Hughes.
The game had its third lengthy stint of four-on-four with 13 minutes left after Kris Letang and Paul Cotter took matching penalties.
After the Devils took advantage in the second, the Penguins took advantage this time. Pierre-Olivier Joseph drove the net and slid a puck toward the slot. Kevin Hayes got on the end of it and chipped it past Daws, tying the game at two with 12 minutes to go.
Crosby would return with eight minutes to play, but neither side could find a consistent push down the home stretch. When the horn sounded to end regulation, overtime was required with the score tied at two.
In the third, shots were 8-4 in favor of Pittsburgh. The Devils registered a 51.61 CF% and a 50.17 xGF% at five-on-five.
Overtime
New Jersey started overtime with Jesper Bratt, Jack Hughes, and Luke Hughes. For the first four minutes of overtime, it was mostly a possession contest with Pittsburgh being especially cautious.
That changed in the final minute, though. Paul Cotter made a great play to break up a Crosby pass in a three-on-one. New Jersey then sent Jack Hughes down the other way on a breakaway, but Nedeljkovic made a great glove save with two seconds left to send it to the dreaded shootout.
Shootout
This was just New Jersey’s second shootout of the season after a loss to Florida in January.
Rickard Rakell started things off for Pittsburgh with a goal. Then, Paul Cotter scored with a nice backhand move.
In the second round, Nico Daws made a blocker save to deny Sidney Crosby. Jack Hughes fanned on his attempt, keeping it tied at one in the shootout.
Daws then made a glove save on Bryan Rust. Jesper Bratt almost won it five-hole, but Nedeljkovic just got enough to keep it out.
Anthony Beauvillier put the Devils on the brink with a filthy bankhand move. Dougie Hamilton went five-hole to force a fifth round, though.
Nico Daws did a great job to stick with Kevin Hayes’ long reach to make a glove save, but Nedeljkovic one-upped him, sprawling to deny Tomas Tatar.
In the seventh round, Daws stopped Cody Glass, giving Timo Meier a chance to win it. Meier wired one over the glove, giving the Devils a much-needed two points after a 3-2 victory.
Wrap-Up
After a lengthy, seven-round shootout, the Devils picked up the extra point and their 30th win of the year. Shots were 27-21 Pittsburgh and New Jersey had a 48.1 CF% and a 43.09 xGF% at five-on-five.
Nico Daws was excellent in the shootout, stopping five of seven attempts to earn the win. He also turned aside 25 of 27 shots in regulation and overtime, stopping 1.18 goals above expected. It was his first win of the season.
Game Notes
Timo Meier
Timo Meier had a strong game, posting a team-best 77.90 xGF% at five-on-five. The Devils also had a 6-2 edge in scoring chances and a 4-0 edge in high-danger chances with Meier on the ice.
Meier was unlucky not to score in regulation after hitting a crossbar during a second period power play, but he ultimately iced the shootout with a top-shelf snipe.
Dougie Hamilton and Brendan Dillon
After Jonas Siegenthaler went down early with an injury, the remaining five New Jersey defensemen were forced to log plenty of ice time, especially Brendan Dillon and Luke Hughes on the left side.
The pairings were a bit shuffled at times as well, but Brendan Dillon still spent the majority of his shifts with Dougie Hamilton. Hamilton finished with a 64.08 xGF% to lead all New Jersey defensemen while Dillon was second with a 49.93 xGF%. Dillon also logged a season-high 26:00 of ice time in all situations.
Shoutout to Luke Hughes who logged a season-high in ice time as well with 29: 45 played.
Tough Night For Fourth Line
It was a struggle for the Devils’ fourth line in the win. The trio of Tomas Tatar, Curtis Lazar, and Nathan Bastian generated 0.00 expected goals in their five minutes of five-on-five ice time together. Pittsburgh outchanced New Jersey 2-0 with that line on the ice.
Individually, none had an xGF% north of 11.15 as depth scoring and creation remains an issue for New Jersey.
What’s Next
The Devils return home to take on the Golden Knights for the first time this season on Thursday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET on MSGSN.
Note: All statistics via Natural Stat Trick.