Facing a challenging second game of a back-to-back road set against a top Western Conference team and missing their leading scorer, the New Jersey Devils appeared headed for an eighth straight loss.
That’s why the Devils’ jubilant reaction to what became the game-winning goal was so understandable.
Kyle Palmieri broke a 1-1 tie in the third period, helping the Devils secure a 2-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night, ending a seven-game losing streak.
Palmieri’s team-leading 12th goal of the season came with 8:26 remaining as he lifted the puck high into the net past Coyotes goalie Darcy Kuemper. Palmieri celebrated with a fist pump and was quickly surrounded by excited teammates near the benches.
“A lot of guys stepped up and were pulling in the right direction. It’s a good feeling when every guy in this room is battling for each other,” Palmieri said. “It felt nice to get rewarded for it.”
Jesper Boqvist also scored, while Michael McLeod and Miles Wood each contributed two assists, helping the Devils notch their first win of the month. Mackenzie Blackwood made 31 saves in net.
The victory was the first for interim coach Alain Nasreddine since taking over after John Hynes was fired on Dec. 3.
“You look at the saves he makes, and they look easy. And that gives the team a lot of confidence,” Nasreddine said of Blackwood.
Alex Goligoski scored for Arizona, which has lost five of its last seven home games but remains atop the Pacific Division. Vinnie Hinostroza tallied his fourth assist in two games, and Darcy Kuemper made 31 saves for the Coyotes.
The Devils were without Taylor Hall, their points leader with 25, for the second consecutive game amid ongoing trade discussions. The Coyotes are rumored to be one of the interested teams.
“That’s a game that’s going to sting a bit. It’s a game we feel we should have,” Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun said.
New Jersey struck first just 2:17 into the game. Boqvist redirected a rebound from a shot by McLeod for his third goal of the season.
Goligoski tied the game with a power-play goal with 4:25 left in the first period, snapping a nine-game goal drought. He carried the puck out of his zone, received a pass from Hinostroza, and fired a wrist shot past Blackwood.
Arizona has scored seven power-play goals in its last seven games.
The Devils began the second period on a power play due to a high-sticking penalty on Goligoski late in the first. However, Arizona successfully killed off that penalty and another later in the period, stopping the Devils on all three of their power-play opportunities.
Blackwood made a crucial save on Conor Garland’s wide-open wrist shot at 5:55 of the second period to keep the game tied.
“Jersey had that one chance, and they scored on a breakdown. We need some guys to produce,” Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. “We got a good goaltender again, but I don’t think we gave up a lot of chances. I didn’t mind our game; we just didn’t execute.”
Game Notes:
- F Brayden Burke was called up from AHL Tucson on Friday and was a scratch for the Coyotes.
- D Oliver Ekman-Larsson played his 692nd game, passing Doug Smail for fifth-most in franchise history.
- The Devils placed G Louis Domingue on injured reserve after he suffered a lower-body injury Friday against Colorado. G Evan Cormier was called up from the ECHL’s Adirondack.
UP NEXT:
- Devils: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.
- Coyotes: Travel to San Jose to face the Sharks on Tuesday night.
