Jesper Bratt, Alexander Holtz, and Tyler Toffoli scored in the third period, leading the New Jersey Devils to a 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.
Short-Handed Devils Triumph
Despite missing key forwards Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, and Jack Hughes, the Devils managed to defeat Pittsburgh for the sixth consecutive time. Vitek Vanecek made 23 saves, helping New Jersey snap a three-game losing streak.
Bratt’s Game-Winning Goal
Bratt gave the Devils a 3-2 lead at 2:35 into the third period, beating Tristan Jarry with a shot over the blocker during a 4-on-4 situation. Holtz added his fourth goal of the season at 11:24, and Toffoli extended the lead with his ninth goal just 20 seconds later, both set up by Bratt.
Notable Performances
Curtis Lazar had a short-handed goal and an assist, marking his 100th career point. Nathan Bastian also contributed with his first goal of the season. Bryan Rust scored twice for Pittsburgh, and Sidney Crosby extended his point streak to 10 games with an assist, reaching 11 such streaks of 10 or more games in his career.
Injury Woes for Devils
Meier, who scored 40 goals last season, missed the game due to an injury sustained in Tuesday’s loss to Winnipeg. Hischier has been out since Oct. 27 with an upper-body injury, and Hughes, who has five goals and 20 points in 10 games, hasn’t played since Nov. 3 following a collision with the boards against St. Louis.
Upcoming Games
- Devils: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday.
- Penguins: Visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
