The New Jersey Devils are struggling, and the latest setback came courtesy of an outstanding performance by Flyers goaltender Carter Hart.
Hart made 48 saves, matching his career high, and led the Flyers to a 2-1 victory, extending the Devils’ losing streak to four games. Travis Konecny scored the decisive goal on a breakaway with 8:14 left in the game.
“He was dialed in,” said Scott Laughton, who also scored for the Flyers. He made a big save in the third. Even at the end, he slipped cross-crease. He saved a back-door chance. You need your goalie to be good, especially against a team like that with so much speed and skill. He was great for us.”
Hart stopped all but one shot, including a dozen top-quality chances, and made a critical save against Jesper Bratt in the final seconds.
“They (defense) did a good job of letting me see the puck, boxing guys out, not letting them get any second whacks at pucks, loose pucks,” said Hart, who also made 48 saves in a win over Florida earlier this season. The one at the end there with what, 10 seconds left, was off to my blocker. It squirted to the middle, and Risto (Rasmus Ristolainen) did a good job of clearing it. That was a huge play at the end.”
Jack Hughes scored for the Devils, and Vitek Vanecek made 22 saves as New Jersey fell to 0-3-1 in their last four games.
Center Erik Haula acknowledged the Devils (21-7-2) are still in a good position but are frustrated with the recent skid.
“But, you know, we lost four in a row. It’s not good,” he said. We’re not happy about it. It’s very frustrating to us, and it’s unacceptable.”
The decisive goal came from a misplay by Devils defenseman Damon Severson. His pass from the boards in the Flyers’ zone was deflected, allowing Konecny to intercept the puck, skate alone into the Devils’ zone, and beat Vanecek to the stick side for his 12th goal.
Devils coach Lindy Ruff was frustrated after the game, emphasizing the Flyers had no chances in the third period and criticizing the risky play.
“To make that play and trap those people, that was totally unacceptable,” Ruff said of Severson’s pass.
Severson admitted his pass was deflected, giving Konecny the opportunity.
“If it connects, it’s a dangerous one,” Severson said. “If it doesn’t, unfortunately, it didn’t.”
Hughes started the scoring with a spectacular power-play goal 4:20 into the game. A clearing pass deflected off Dougie Hamilton in the neutral zone and went to Hughes, who split defensemen Ivan Provorov and Lukas Sedlak, skated in on Hart, and scored with a shot off the far goalpost for his 16th goal.
Laughton tied the game early in the second period with a shot from the right point that Vanecek couldn’t see through a screen. It was his fifth goal.
THURSDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
For a brief period in the second period, the game resembled an old Devils-Flyers rivalry match. Flyers forward Nicolas Deslauriers engaged in a lengthy fight with Devils forward Michael McLeod about four minutes after the Flyers tied the game. Shortly after, Flyers forward Joel Farabee fought with Devils defenseman Brendan Smith.
ROSTER MOVE
The Flyers placed defenseman Tony DeAngelo on non-roster status for undisclosed personal reasons. He missed his fourth straight game. Philadelphia recalled forward Olle Lycksell from Lehigh Valley (AHL) to fill the roster spot.
UP NEXT
- Flyers: Return home to face the Rangers on Saturday.
- Devils: Host Florida on Saturday, concluding a three-game homestand.
