Nico Hischier contributed a goal and two assists. At the same time, Jacob Markstrom stopped all 12 shots he faced to secure his second shutout of the season as the New Jersey Devils defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 on Saturday night.
Stefan Noesen and Timo Meier also found the back of the net for the Devils, who have now won four of their last five games.
Noesen opened the scoring late in the second period with his career-best 15th goal, assisted by Hischier and Meier. Hischier doubled the lead early in the third, capitalizing on a loose puck in the crease for his 17th goal. Meier sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.
Markstrom, acquired from Calgary in a June trade, earned the 22nd shutout of his career. The 34-year-old improved his record to 17-6-2 in his first season with New Jersey.
The Devils, leading the Metropolitan Division with a 22-11-3 record, are 6-3-2 against division rivals and maintain a one-point lead over the idle Washington Capitals, who have four games in hand.
Pittsburgh, shut out for the third time this season, saw their run of eight wins in 11 games come to an end. Tristan Jarry made 25 saves in a losing effort.
Takeaways
Devils: New Jersey’s defensive dominance continues, as they’ve allowed 20 or fewer shots in six straight games. Their balanced offense and stingy defense have kept them atop the division.
Penguins: Pittsburgh struggled offensively, managing just 12 shots and falling to 6-8-3 on the road. This season, this game marked the first of four meetings between the two teams.
Key Moment
Markstrom’s sprawling save on an Evgeni Malkin one-timer seven minutes into the second period preserved the scoreless tie, setting the stage for the Devils’ eventual breakthrough.
Key Stat
The Devils improved to 10-6-3 at home and boast an impressive 12-5-0 road record this season.
Up Next
The Devils host the New York Rangers on Monday before entering a three-day Christmas break. The Penguins will host the Philadelphia Flyers the same day.
