Nico Daws stopped 29 shots, and goals from Paul Cotter, Brenden Dillon, and rookie Arseny Gritsyuk powered the New Jersey Devils to a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night — their sixth straight victory.
Since dropping their season opener in Carolina, the Devils have won three consecutive home games and three on the road. This streak is their longest since a 13-game run early in the 2022–23 season.
Jesper Bratt capped the scoring with an empty-net goal, and Dawson Mercer contributed two assists.
Cotter scored late in the first period, jamming in a loose puck with 3:39 remaining for his first of the season. Dillon doubled the lead at 6:08 of the second, his second goal in as many nights.
The 24-year-old Gritsyuk, a 2019 fifth-round draft pick, recorded his first NHL goal on a third-period power play, giving the Devils a 3-0 cushion. Minnesota’s Matt Boldy spoiled Daws’ shutout bid midway through the final frame with his fifth of the season.
Making his season debut, Daws impressed in net after Jake Allen had started the previous three wins. Starter Jacob Markstrom remains sidelined with a lower-body injury suffered in Columbus on Oct. 13.
New Jersey’s penalty kill continued its dominant form, going 3-for-3 against the Wild to stretch its streak to 21 consecutive kills. The Devils have surrendered just one power-play goal in seven games this season.
Minnesota closed a five-game road swing with only one win — a 3-1 victory over the Rangers on Monday at Madison Square Garden.
Up Next:
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Devils: Host the San Jose Sharks on Friday night.
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Wild: Begin a six-game homestand Saturday against the Utah Hockey Club.
