Nico Hischier wasted little time in overtime, scoring just 42 seconds in to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night, even after Jack Hughes was forced to leave the game early.
Hischier ripped a slap shot from outside the left faceoff circle that beat goaltender Justus Annunen high on the glove side to seal the win. Dawson Mercer earned the assist on the captain’s eighth career overtime goal. Hischier now leads New Jersey with 18 goals and 41 points through 54 games.
Jesper Bratt scored the tying goal midway through the third period, and Dougie Hamilton also found the net for the Devils, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Jacob Markstrom turned aside 27 shots in the win.
Hughes exited after just three shifts in the opening period due to a lower-body injury and did not return. Coach Sheldon Keefe said Hughes would be re-evaluated Friday and expressed optimism that the injury is not serious. The timing is notable with the Milan-Cortina Olympics approaching, where Hughes is expected to make his Olympic debut for the United States.
Michael McCarron and Filip Forsberg scored for Nashville, which dropped its third straight game. Annunen finished with 32 saves.
McCarron opened the scoring five minutes into the first period. Hamilton tied the game in the second, extending his point streak to nine games. Forsberg restored Nashville’s lead early in the third, moving into sixth place all-time among Swedish NHL goal scorers with his 338th career tally. Bratt capitalized on a Predators turnover later in the period to even the score and force overtime.
Up next
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Predators: Visit the New York Islanders on Saturday.
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Devils: Travel to Ottawa to face the Senators on Saturday.
