Nico Hischier broke out of a scoring slump with his first career hat trick, leading the New Jersey Devils to a commanding 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Monday night.
Hischier, who had gone 10 games without a goal, scored all three of his goals in the second period, bringing his season total to 13. Erik Haula added a goal, and Justin Dowling sealed the win with an empty-netter. Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic contributed two assists for New Jersey (15-7-2).
Filip Forsberg and Zachary L’Heureux scored for Nashville (7-12-3), while Juuse Saros made 26 saves before being replaced by former Devil Scott Wedgewood, who stopped 15 shots in the third period.
Jacob Markstrom made 19 saves for the Devils, who peppered the Predators with a season-high 46 shots on goal.
Nashville forward Steven Stamkos, a consistent Devils nemesis with 45 career points against New Jersey, was held to just two shots on goal.
Earlier Monday, the Predators traded 2019 first-round pick Philip Tomasino to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick. Tomasino leaves Nashville with 23 goals and 48 assists in 159 career games.
Takeaways
Predators: Nashville’s power play, ranked in the league’s top 10 with a 22.7% success rate, faltered against New Jersey. The Predators managed only seven shots across five power-play opportunities, including a critical five-minute advantage late in the game.
Devils: New Jersey dominated offensively, setting a season-high with 46 shots on goal. Hischier’s breakout performance provided the spark, while the team’s penalty kill stood tall in key moments.
Key Moment
With 7:43 remaining, Timo Meier was assessed a five-minute major for cross-checking, giving Nashville a chance to rally from a 4-2 deficit. However, the Devils’ penalty kill stifled the Predators, allowing just one shot during the extended power play.
Key Stat
The victory snapped Nashville’s dominance at the Prudential Center, where the Predators had won eight straight games before Monday’s loss.
Up Next
The Devils continue their homestand against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, while the Predators return to Nashville to host the Philadelphia Flyers the same night.
