Erik Haula, Nikita Okhotiuk, and Ryan Graves scored in the second period, helping the New Jersey Devils become the first NHL team to win 17 of their first 20 road games by defeating the Los Angeles Kings 5-2 on Saturday night.
Tomas Tatar netted a power-play goal, Jesper Bratt added an empty-netter, and Jack Hughes contributed two assists as the surprising Devils improved to 17-2-1 on the road, including six consecutive wins. Mackenzie Blackwood made 34 saves, including stopping a penalty shot by Kevin Fiala in the third period.
“A week or two ago, Lindy (Ruff) put our home and away records on the board. That’s probably the first time we realized it was that impressive,” Haula said. “We’re doing a good job of just moving on to the next team and trying to play our best game.”
Kevin Fiala and Anze Kopitar scored power-play goals for the Kings, but Jonathan Quick allowed four goals on 27 shots, ending their three-game winning streak.
“It’s disappointing that we didn’t capitalize on our chances,” said Los Angeles forward Adrian Kempe. “Our power play was good, but we didn’t generate enough 5-on-5, which is frustrating.”
The Devils broke the game open with three goals in the second period after both teams scored on the power play in the first.
“We got away with the first period a bit,” said Haula, who scored on a 2-on-1 rush 2:37 into the second period to give New Jersey a 2-1 lead. “They put us on our heels, and Blackie was fantastic today. So we came in 1-1, and then figured it out.”
Kopitar tied it at 6:48 by tipping Drew Doughty’s shot from the blue line, but the Devils regained the lead 52 seconds later when Okhotiuk beat Quick under his right blocker with a long shot.
Graves made it 4-2 with 9:03 left in the period when his shot from the left point deflected off the skate of defenseman Sean Walker.
“Every point counts,” Blackwood said. “Looking back at the end of a season, you realize how crucial every game is. You never know which game will make the difference, so every point matters.”
TRAVELING MAN
Ruff is no stranger to success on the road. His 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres were one of five teams in league history to win 15 of their first 19 road games, a mark Ruff’s Devils surpassed with their 6-2 victory at Anaheim on Friday.
“I can’t explain it,” Ruff said. “We’re finding ways to win, and I think that every team, every coach knows you’re going to have to win games in different ways. … Our game detail and puck management have been better on the road. Sometimes at home, there’s a tendency to be a little flashier, which has hurt us.”
The 2006-07 Buffalo team went 25-12-4 on the road, won the Presidents’ Trophy, and reached the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to Ottawa.
HOME SWEET HOME
Kopitar scored his 200th career goal on home ice, becoming the fourth player in franchise history to reach that milestone. He joins Luc Robitaille (322), Marcel Dionne (288), and Dave Taylor (233) in the Kings’ record books.
UP NEXT
- Devils: Visit San Jose on Monday.
- Kings: Host Dallas on Thursday night.
