Matchup Summary
It may have seemed like this day would never come, but the Devils actually won a hockey game last night. It wasn’t always pretty, but they found a way to hang on and overcome some adversity in the form of another blown third period lead.
First Period
The Devils had a pretty strong start to this game, playing with a physical edge and really driving the play. New Jersey ended up outshooting Philly 9-3 in the first, including a powerplay goal off the stick of Nico Hischier. After a bit of puck cycling, Zacha fired a cross-ice pass to a backdoor Jack Hughes. His shot was blocked, but the puck ricocheted to Nico in the slot, who buried a wrister. A Powerplay goal, along with a strong double-minor penalty kill helped propel the Devils in the first, something that hasn’t been said basically all season.
Second Period
The Second got off to a quick start, with another power play goal by Pavel Zacha. He positioned himself in the low slot and was able to snap home the feed from Jack Hughes. The goal celebration was a bit delayed as none of the players were truly sure the puck beat Elliott, but it snuck through for the 2-0 lead. Miles Wood got on the score sheet with his 17th of the season off a seeing-eye wrister from the blue line. Wood tried getting a shot through that was initially blocked in front, but he managed to control the Flyer’s clearing attempt and fire another shot on goal. This time, it got through the maze of bodies and in back of the net for the dreaded 3-0 lead. Philadelphia would get on the board just 15 seconds later, making it 3-1, and giving Devils fans everywhere fear of yet another collapse.
Third Period
The third period was nothing short of chaotic, with goals finding the back of the net seemingly at will. Myers and Giroux would score in the first four minutes of the period, bringing the game to a 3-3 tie and having Devils fans melting into their couches. With both teams in the middle of a change, Carrick decided to take things into his own hands. Carrick chipped the puck off the boards and around the Flyers defenseman, raced after it, and picked up the puck below the face-off dot. With no room to work, somehow Carrick was able to rip home a far-side wrister and put the Devils ahead 4-3. Sanheim would score a tying goal just four minutes later, but it only took 11 seconds for New Jersey to regain the lead. New Jersey sent the puck in deep off the faceoff. Elliott mishandled the puck and created a mad scramble around the crease. Out of the chaos came a Sharangovich goal into the empty net, making it 5-4. Maltsev would ice the game with the empty netter, cementing New Jersey’s much-needed victory.