With the departure of 2018 MVP Taylor Hall to Arizona, the New Jersey Devils needed other players to step up, and they did just that in their first game since the trade.
Nico Hischier and Kyle Palmieri, former linemates of Hall, rose to the occasion, each scoring in the second period to propel the Devils to a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night. The win marked just the fourth time New Jersey has secured consecutive victories this season.
“I think for the young guys coming up, it’s about those close games and finding ways to win or close them out,” Palmieri said. “Tonight, we found a way to come from behind, take the lead going into the third, and keep playing aggressively. They had a few chances, but we held strong.”
Sami Vatanen also scored for the Devils, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 26 saves, helping interim coach Alain Nasreddine earn his second straight win.
Adam Henrique scored for the Ducks against his former team, giving Anaheim an early 1-0 lead. However, the Ducks couldn’t hold on and ultimately lost to New Jersey for the first time in four meetings. Ryan Miller stopped 17 shots as Anaheim suffered its second consecutive loss on their four-game East Coast trip.
“Obviously, you want to get a good start and build from there,” Henrique said. “We have to find a way to get that next goal. Right now, we’re struggling to get two or three and really put the pressure on the other team. That’s an area we need to improve.”
Anaheim defenseman Michael Del Zotto played a role in all three Devil’s goals. He had a giveaway that led to Hischier’s goal early in the second period, took an interference penalty that set up Palmieri’s go-ahead goal and lost a battle with Jack Hughes in the third period that resulted in Vatanen’s goal, extending New Jersey’s lead to 3-1.
Henrique had given Anaheim the lead just 3:33 into the game, finishing off a 2-on-none with Ondrej Kase.
The momentum shifted early in the second period when Del Zotto mishandled a puck along the boards, allowing Jesper Bratt to retrieve it and set up Hischier for a shot from the right circle at 1:28.
Bratt, who has taken Hall’s spot on the line centered by Hischier, played a key role in the victory.
“I feel comfortable playing with (Bratt),” Hischier said. “We came into the league together and have played many games together already. He’s a great playmaker who can also score, so it’s a lot of fun playing with him.”
Palmieri notched his 13th goal of the season during the final seconds of the power play, making a toe-drag move around defenseman Cam Fowler and beating the screened Miller from the right circle.
Vatanen added another goal against his former team, and Blackwood held strong in the final period, making 11 saves to secure New Jersey’s first home win since November 23 against Detroit.
“We were OK in the first,” Miller said. “We were getting the puck deep and playing the way we should. We didn’t stick to that in the second period and ended up playing into their hands. We didn’t have much energy until that final push.”
Blackwood ensured that the Devils’ efforts paid off.
Game Notes:
- Devils activated D Connor Carrick (finger) off injured reserve; he last played on October 14.
- The Ducks called up C Isac Lundestrom and LW Max Jones from San Diego (AHL) after RW Troy Terry (leg) and C Derek Grant (shoulder) were injured in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Terry is expected to be out for 10 weeks with a fractured bone below his kneecap, while Grant will be out for 4 to 6 weeks.
UP NEXT:
- Ducks: Continue their road trip at the Islanders on Saturday.
- Devils: Host Washington on Friday night.
