Timo Meier delivered in the clutch, scoring in the seventh round of the shootout to lift the New Jersey Devils to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night.
Jack Hughes led the Devils’ offense with two goals. At the same time, goaltender Nico Daws turned in a strong performance, stopping 25 shots through regulation and overtime before denying five of Pittsburgh’s seven attempts in the shootout. With the win, New Jersey extended its dominance in Pittsburgh, securing a sixth consecutive victory at PPG Paints Arena.
Devils Bounce Back After Tough Loss
Jesper Bratt assisted on both of Hughes’ goals, bringing his season total to 45. The Devils rebounded from a disappointing loss to Buffalo while simultaneously ending Pittsburgh’s brief two-game winning streak.
The Penguins got their scoring from Rickard Rakell, who notched his 24th goal of the season, and Kevin Hayes, who netted the game-tying goal with just over 12 minutes left in regulation. Pittsburgh goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made 19 saves, including two crucial stops against Hughes in overtime to force a shootout.
Crosby Injury Scare
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby briefly left the game in the third period after a collision with New Jersey’s Luke Hughes and Erik Haula. Favoring his left arm or hand, Crosby skated to the bench before heading to the locker room for further evaluation. However, he returned to action after a few shifts.
Meanwhile, the Devils played most of the game without defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, who suffered a lower-body injury in the first period when he lost his footing along the boards.
Takeaways
Devils: The combination of Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt continues to be one of the most dangerous duos in the league, with their chemistry fueling New Jersey’s offensive success.
Penguins: Pittsburgh extended its point streak to three games, showing resilience despite recently trading defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor to Vancouver.
Key Moment
Dougie Hamilton kept the Devils alive in the fourth round of the shootout with a smooth move, slipping the puck through Nedeljkovic’s pads to extend the game.
Stat of the Night
New Jersey remained dominant when protecting a lead, improving to 25-0-2 when ahead after two periods.
What’s Next
New Jersey returns home to face the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, while Pittsburgh heads to Madison Square Garden for a matchup against the New York Rangers on Friday.
