After a dominant win the other night in Vancouver, the New Jersey Devils defeated the Edmonton Oilers in dramatic fashion. After being down two goals entering the third period, a dominant effort saw the Devils score three goals and complete the comeback.
This thanks to goals only seven seconds a part (franchise record) late in the third period. One of which was scored by Jesper Bratt (franchise record 11th straight game with a point to begin the season).
This was the good news. The bad news is Mackenzie Blackwood left the game with a lower-body injury and did not return. Postgame, head coach Lindy Ruff said, “No update, we will see tomorrow,” when asked about his status.
Game Summary
First Period
The first period saw both teams score a goal. Nine minutes into the opening frame, Connor McDavid struck first. After the Devils’ forward Jesper Bratt botched a two-phone attempt, the Oilers went the other way on an odd-man rush and Zach Hyman slid the puck over to McDavid, who roofed it past Mackenzie Blackwood.
Three minutes later, it was the fourth line for the Devils that would respond. After a turnover at center ice, Nathan Bastian found Miles Wood in the slot for the game-tying goal. Both teams would head to the second period tied up.
Second Period
The second frame began the same way the first did and this period was all Oilers. After a turnover by Ryan Graves, the Oilers capitalized as Derek Ryan deflected a Tyson Barrie shot past Blackwood. Not even two minutes later the lethal Oilers’ power play went to work. After some shifty skating by McDavid, he slid a pass over to Leon Draisaitl, who snapped a shot past a screened Vitek Vanecek.
Vanecek replaced Blackwood in the period, after Blackwood left stretch from the right to the left post. To make matters worse, the period was all Oilers from start to finish, and Edmonton would took a two-goal lead into the third period.
Third Period
Unlike the second period, the third was all Devils. Not even two minutes in, Miles Wood got his second of the game as he snapped a shot through traffic.
The Devils kept the pressure on Edmonton and it paid off. As a result, the Devils scored a new franchise record two goals in seven seconds to complete the thrilling one-goal victory.
Ryan Graves tied the game after some nifty dangling in the slot. Jesper Bratt then took a stretch pass from John Marino and sniped a shot top shelf to secure the win. The horn sounded and the Devils completed the comeback.
Wrap Up
There were several top performers in the game. Miles Wood had himself a two-goal contest and three points overall. Meanwhile, Jesper Bratt’s game-winning goal set the franchise record for most consecutive games with at least a point to begin the season (11).
Game Notes
- Records are being set. The Devils are on their first five-game win streak since December 2017. Jesper Bratt scored the game-winner and now has the all-time Devils record to begin the season with points in 11 straight games. Lastly, the two goals seven-seconds a part also broke a franchise record from 2001.
- Vitek Vanecek was terrific in relief. Despite the early goal, he was dominant the rest of the way. He finished with a .947 save percentage and finished with a 1.22 goals saved above expected.
- Lost in the shuffle was Miles Wood’s three-point game. One of the longest tenured Devils is now up to four goals and two assists in 11 games. Terrific numbers alongside Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian on the fourth line.
What’s Next?
The New Jersey Devils complete the road trip against the Calgary Flames Saturday night at 10:00 P.M. ET.