Simon Nemec delivered a stunning performance, completing his first career hat trick with the overtime winner as the New Jersey Devils edged the Chicago Blackhawks 4–3 on Wednesday night.
The 21-year-old defenseman scored all three of New Jersey’s goals in regulation and overtime, capping the night by taking a long stretch pass from Jacob Markstrom, racing in alone, and beating Spencer Knight high on the glove side at 3:28 of OT. Nemec now has goals in back-to-back games after going scoreless through his first 15 contests this season.
Dawson Mercer also scored for the Eastern Conference–leading Devils, who improved to 3-0-1 in their last four games and extended their winning streak against Chicago to seven straight. Jack Hughes recorded two assists, and Markstrom made 17 saves in the win.
Chicago was powered by Connor Bedard, who continued his torrid stretch with a 5-on-3 power-play goal, extending both his goal streak to four games and his career-best nine-game point streak (8 goals, 11 assists). Landon Slaggert, recalled earlier in the day from AHL Rockford, scored in his season debut, and Sam Lafferty added a highlight-reel goal. Knight kept the Blackhawks competitive with 33 saves, including several spectacular stops during a second-period barrage.
After Bedard opened the scoring late in the first, Nemec tied the game with a backhander in the final seconds of the second period. Chicago briefly led twice in the third — on goals from Slaggert and Lafferty — but both times the Devils responded, with Mercer and Nemec delivering timely equalizers.
The game also marked a milestone for Chicago’s Ryan Donato, who appeared in his 500th NHL game.
Up Next:
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Devils: Travel to Washington to face the Capitals on Saturday.
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Blackhawks: Host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
