Recap

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Arizona Coyotes 3-2 courtesy of the shootout. Even after losing Mackenzie Blackwood earlier in the game with an undisclosed lower-body injury, Kinkaid and company only needed two shootout rounds to get the win. The offense was very opportunistic and had it not been for Keumper being outstanding in net, this game could have gone a much different direction.

Takeaways

Kinkaid seemed rusty… After Blackwood left the game with four minutes remaining in the first, Keith stepped in and gave up a goal on the first shot attempt he faced. The goal came following a miserable turnover courtesy of Pavel Zacha, who handed the puck away in the crease and Conor Garland buried it to tie the game. Kinkaid also gave up a goal on a two-on-one rush. Those types of scenarios are great scoring opportunities, but he was in good position, and the shot just slipped under his armpit and through him for the goal. He finished the game with a .875 save percentage but did get dialed in for the shootout.

Coleman-Zajac-Wood were buzzing… After a relatively disappointing performance in his home state, Coleman rebounded in a big way. He finished with one goal on eight shots in 17:08 TOI and had the third highest possession metrics, with a Corsi of 66.7%. Zajac led the possession metrics, with a Corsi of 71.1 to go along with an assist and three shots on net in 20:40 of ice time. Those two should have been involved on another goal by Pietila, but the whistle was blown early on the play, disallowing the goal. Zajac/Coleman remain monsters on the penalty kill and their energy attacking the puck carrier is impossible to miss.

Nico Hischier has stepped up in absence of Taylor Hall… He has shown some incredible things already in his short tenure with the team. But in playing without Hall on the ice, he really has taken things to another level. Hall leaves impossible shoes to fill in his absence, but Nico has done a great job leading the offense and has been more confident in his own ability. His goal in the first was an incredibly strange situation, with the net getting knocked loose before the puck crossed the line. However, the officials ruled the puck was on a clear path to cross before the net came loose and Nico had a birthday goal. He also was robbed of a game-winner in overtime off a tremendous feed from Bratt that Keumper somehow swept off the goal line.

 

Final Score and Stats

Score: Devils 3 Coyotes 2

Shots: Devils 35 Coyotes 25

Faceoff%: Devils 54 Coyotes 46

Powerplay: Devils 0/3 Coyotes 0/5

Blocks: Devils 17 Coyotes 11