No Nico Hischier, No Jack Hughes, No problem. The New Jersey Devils marched into Chicago and walked out with a victory. Being down your top two centers is a tough challenge but the Devils weathered the storm. This was a closer game than anticipated, but nonetheless the Devils grabbed the victory.
Game Recap
First Period
The Devils began the period down but found a way to crawl back in front. Former Devil and Hart Trophy winner kickstarted things with the first goal of the game. After a Tyler Johnson shot created a rebound, Taylor Hall fired the rebound home to make it 1-0.
Dawson Mercer finally got the monkey off his back via a power play tally. With a hard drive to the net, he fired a perfectly placed shot to tie the game.
Then, the Devils were able to take the lead. After a cough up at the blue line, newest Devil, Max Willman, skated in on a breakaway and slid the puck five hole to take the lead. The Devils would skate to the second period with a 2-1 lead.
Second Period
This period saw a script flipped from the first period. Despite the Devils scoring the two goals, Chicago held the edge at five-on-five play. Meanwhile, the second period saw zero goals from either team, but the Devils went on to pepper the Blackhawks.
New Jersey dominated and if not for the Chicago goaltending, the doors would’ve been blown open. The Devils dominated in Corsi-for percentage (CF%) at 72.22. The Devils dominating the expected goals share 1.38-0.16.
Third Period
After a scoreless period, both teams found ways to get the puck into the back of the net in the final frame. It started with the Devils, as Curtis Lazar put the team in front by two. After John Marino got stoned on a breakaway attempt, he fired a shot that got deflected by Lazar.
However, Chicago would respond and fast. After digging the puck out from behind the net, Ryan Donato took a feed and buried it from right in front of the crease.
Game Notes
Dawson Mercer
Dawson Mercer had his best game of the season. In a game where the team is without their top two centers, then next man up was going to have to come through. That was Mercer.
It has been a sluggish start for Mercer but Sunday was the game he needed to have. Mercer got his first goal of the year but his impacts go beyond that. With him on the ice, the Devils out-attempted Chicago 18-9, and he had the third-highest expected goals for (xGF) of 1.25. This is an encouraging sign and hopefully something he can build off of into the next game.
The Mercer Line
Mercer had a fantastic game individually, but his line was also the most impactful. Being flanked by Ondrej Palat and Timo Meier paid off in this game.
The trio did not have a goal but they finished with a CF% of 76.19 and controlled the pace of the game. This trio had a nose for the net and generated 11 scoring chances and got seven shots towards the net.
These are great things to have going on with the recent news to Hughes and the uncertainty of Hischier. The goals will come but this line brought it tonight in Chicago.
What’s Next
The Devils road trip continues as they take on the Colorado Avalanche Tuesday night.