The post COVID-19 layoff win streak continues as the New Jersey Devils conquered their demons. They were finally able to defeat the Washington Capitals, even if it took overtime to do it. Nico Hischier’s two goal night led the way and Jack Hughes remains red hot.
It wasn’t all positive, however, as New Jersey lost Dougie Hamilton early on. This after he took a puck to the face and did not return to the game. The most recent update given is Hamilton was sticked up then was taken to the hospital. He is, “doing well,” which is good to hear.
Game Summary
First Period
Yegor Sharangovich got things started with a goal just over seven minutes into the first period. Jack Hughes made a beautiful play in the neutral zone to spin and gain control of a lob pass. With Sharangovich crashing to the net, Hughes threw the puck low on goaltender Ilya Samsonov. He made the initial save but couldn’t get a pad on the rebound attempt.
Damon Severson would follow up just over a minute later with a beautiful goal of his own. After some offensive zone rotation, Severson snuck down low and was met with an absolutely beautiful seam pass from Dawson Mercer. This set up the pretty one-time, slap-shot goal.
The Capitals would answer in the final minute of the period. The goal would cut the Devils’ lead to 2-1. After a little give-and-go play, John Carlson took a drop-pass and sent a wrist-shot flying. It beat MacKenzie Blackwood short-side over his glove and bar-down.
Second Period
Hischier struck in the opening minute of the second period and gave the Devils another two-goal lead. A quick rush into the zone found the Devils getting their offense set up. Jonas Siegenthaler threw a shot towards the net that went wide and ricocheted to the opposite point. This is where a pinching Severson held the zone and put a shot on net. Hischier found himself setup in front and managed to tip the shot and beat Samsonov for the 3-1 lead.
Third Period
As expected, the Capitals came with a strong push in the third period. At first, it seemed like New Jersey may just be able to weather the storm, but Nic Dowd had other plans. With just under seven minutes remaining, Dowd took a chop at a loose puck, popped it into the air and followed it up with a mid-air tap that beat Blackwood. This cut the Devils’ lead to 3-2.
Then came the game-tying goal, and it certainly is one Blackwood will be having nightmares over. With under four minutes remaining, Washington sends a dump in on Blackwood in an attempt to gain the zone. Blackwood settled it down on his pads and took a look up ice to see where he wanted to go with the puck. In an attempt to clear it to a defender, Blackwood completely whiffed and turned it over Lars Eller. Eller sent it across to a wide-open Conor Sheary who tapped it into the empty net and tied the game.
Overtime
After some back and forth, the Devils finally capitalized and snatched a victory on Nico Hischier’s second of the game. Hughes attempted a centering pass that initially was intercepted, but Hughes was able to race back and recover the puck. In the same moment, Jack sent a spin-o-rama pass to a wide open Hischier who buried the wrist shot. It went far-side and extended the Devils’ win-streak to three games.
What’s Next
The Devils have another demon to conquer when they square off against the Boston Bruins, Tuesday night. The Devils currently sit with a record of 13-15-5. However, the surging play is at least creating some potential for an entertaining second half of the year.