Egor Sharangovich scored his first NHL goal in the final moments of overtime, giving the New Jersey Devils a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
MacKenzie Blackwood was solid in net with 27 saves, securing his first win of the season. Miles Wood also found the back of the net for New Jersey for the second straight game.
“You can win in a lot of ways, but this was a complete 60-minute effort,” said Lindy Ruff, celebrating his first win as the Devils’ head coach. “Everyone contributed. Our forwards were strong, our defense was solid, and Blackwood made some key saves when we needed them. It was a great team win.”
Patrice Bergeron scored for Boston, and Jaroslav Halak made 29 saves, including two crucial stops late in the third period to send the game to overtime.
The game was decided when Devils defenseman Damon Severson outpaced Bruins forward Charlie Coyle to a loose puck just outside the offensive zone. Severson then made a slick backhand pass to set up the 22-year-old Sharangovich, who scored with just 1.7 seconds remaining in overtime.
“This is the best moment of my hockey career,” Sharangovich said.
Bergeron tied the game with a shorthanded goal at 17:16 of the second period, capitalizing on a puck battle won by Brad Marchand against Devils forward Kyle Palmieri.
“When Marchand has a step on someone, he’s going to make that play and find you,” Bergeron said. “It’s about getting open and giving him a lane.”
Boston appeared to have scored earlier in the game, but the goal was disallowed due to incidental contact with Blackwood. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy challenged the call, but the ruling stood, resulting in a bench minor.
Wood opened the scoring at 16:15 of the first period, redirecting a shot from Ty Smith after Jack Hughes kept possession during a line change.
“We weren’t fast enough early on, and that cost us the sustained pressure we needed,” Bergeron said.
Wood, who scored his first of the season in a shootout loss on Thursday, was also involved in a fight with Bruins defenseman Kevin Miller just 19 seconds into Saturday’s game after being penalized twice for goaltender interference in the previous contest.
“Playing within our division, we see many of these teams as rivals,” said Devils forward Kyle Palmieri. “Things will get heated when you face the same team multiple times, especially back-to-back.”
Craig Smith debuted for Boston after signing a three-year, $9.3 million contract in the offseason. The 31-year-old forward, who spent the previous nine seasons with the Nashville Predators, missed the opener due to a lower-body injury.
HONORING TRAVIS ROY
The Bruins are paying tribute to Travis Roy this season with a TR 24 emblem on their helmets. Roy was paralyzed during his first shift with Boston University in 1995 and later founded the Travis Roy Foundation to support spinal cord injury survivors. He passed away in October at the age of 45.
SMITH’S STREAK CONTINUES
Rookie defenseman Ty Smith extended his point streak with an assist on Wood’s goal. Smith, a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, also scored his first NHL goal in the Devils’ season opener.
HISCHIER REMAINS SIDELINED
Nico Hischier missed his second consecutive game with a leg injury sustained during training in Switzerland in December. The Devils’ 22-year-old center, selected first overall in the 2017 NHL Draft, did not require surgery.
MATINEE MATCHUPS
Saturday’s game was the first of 11-afternoon games scheduled for the Devils this season. Seven sets will take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
UP NEXT
- Devils: Visit the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
- Bruins: Conclude a three-game road trip Monday against the New York Islanders.
