The New Jersey Devils (22-20-2) suffered another defeat to a division opponent Thursday night. They took on the Pittsburgh Penguins (21-12-9) and lost 4-1. The Devils have been outscored 13-1 over the last two games.
Game Recap
First Period
It took just under the seven minute mark, but the Penguins drew first blood. Excelling in transition with a clean breakout, Rickard Rakell cut through the neutral zone and fed a backhanded pass to Erik Karlsson. Karlsson skated along the boards with the puck and sniped a shot short side past Jake Allen. A tough goal to give up, but a great shot by Karlsson.
The Devils kept pressing and saw Jesper Bratt spring in on a breakaway, only to get stuffed by Stuart Skinner. The Devils kept pressing and took to the attack. Luke Hughes had a great chance, only to get robbed with the glove. In the dying seconds, the Devils generated a turnover behind the net and Nico Hischier got robbed right in front of the net. The horn sounded and the Devils headed to the second period down 1-0.
The Devils found themselves down a goal, but they were the better team. The Devils held the edge in shot attempts (21-16), and outshot the Penguins 11-7. The Devils did generate more high danger shot attempts (five), with four being shots on goal. They generated 1.02 expected goals compared to the Penguins 0.57. Skinner stood tall and that was the difference in the first period.
Second Period
The Devils received the game’s first power play. With the man advantage, the Devils failed to score a goal. Instead, the Penguins extended their lead with Connor Dewar coming out of the penalty box. After the Penguins controlled the puck in their own end, Kris Letang sent a stretch pass to Dewar who went in clean on a breakaway and fired a shot five hole past Allen to make it 2-0.
The Penguins controlled the pace of the period since killing off the Devils’ power play. The Devils were deflated and that summed up the entirety of the period. Late in the period the Penguins got a power play of their own and delivered the insurance marker. With his ninth goal of the year and returning from injury, Evgeni Malkin made it 3-0 to end the second frame.
The Penguins dominated the Devils at five-on-five and it wasn’t a close. The Penguins finished with a 77.5 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and held the Devils to three shots on goal. The Penguins got after the Devils and generated 17 scoring chances to the Devils five and controlled the expected goals share 1.35-0.49. Not a great period by the Devils and why they were down 3-0.
Third Period
The Devils finally broke the dam and scored a goal. It’s was 155 minutes since their last goal. They got another power play to start the third period and they cashed in. After gathering the rebound on the initial shot, the Devils regrouped and set up the play at the top of the blue line. A pass by Dougie Hamilton went right into the wheelhouse of Luke Hughes. He blasted a one timer past Skinner to make it 3-1.
The Penguins then got a power play of their own and Allen came up large with key saves to keep the Devils within two. At the 13:26 mark of the period, the Penguins extended the lead.
After a turnover from behind the net with a pass along the boards by Allen, Noel Acciari sent a cross ice pass to Blake Lizotte who fired it past Allen to make it 4-1. That’s how this one ends, with the Devils dropping another game to a division opponent.
Wrap Up
The Penguins got after the Devils quickly and the Devils never recovered. Erik Karlsson scored his fourth goal of the season and finished with a multi point game (one goal, one assist). The Penguins had four players with multi-point games, with one being Connor Dewar who scored the second goal. Evgeni Malkin scored his ninth of the year returning from injury and Lizotte added the dagger. Luke Hughes scored on the power play, which had to feel good for him.
Game Notes
- The on ice impacts were there for Jack Hughes. He finished the game with a CF% of 69.2 and an expected goals-for percentage of 73.3. It’s been a constant theme of domination and impact to not see the results.
- The top line of Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, and Jack Hughes certainly made its mark. They outshot the Penguins 4-1, out-attempted them 13-8, and finished with an xGF% of 59.9. Very top heavy this game, but the impacts were evident with them.
What’s Next?
The Devils hit the ice again Sunday when they travel to take on the Winnipeg Jets.