Nico Hischier recorded a goal and three assists, Jack Hughes added a goal and two assists, and the New Jersey Devils routed the San Jose Sharks 7-2 on Tuesday night.
New Jersey scored seven consecutive goals after initially trailing 1-0, improving to 16-10-2 on the road. Despite losing three of their last four games, the Devils remain five points shy of a playoff spot.
“We know where we stand,” Hischier said. “It’s no secret. We know we need to get some wins.”
Jesper Bratt, Kevin Bahl, Colin Miller, Brendan Smith, and Dawson Mercer also scored for New Jersey. Timo Meier had two assists in his return to San Jose as the Devils bounced back from a 4-1 home loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday.
“We were disappointed with the last game, and the only way to answer that is with the next game,” said Devils coach Lindy Ruff. “I think all the guys responded. It was really a complete effort.”
Nico Sturm and Justin Bailey scored for San Jose.
The last-place Sharks have lost six of their last seven games, and starting goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood left late in the first period with a lower-body injury after stopping all 13 shots he faced. Kaapo Kahkonen entered with the game still scoreless but allowed seven goals in relief.
Sturm expressed disappointment with the team’s performance.
“Regardless of the score, we want the other team to say, ‘Hey, we had to work really hard for what we got tonight,’” Sturm said. “Tonight, we were just way too easy to play against.”
Down 1-0, Bratt tied the game three minutes into the second period, finishing into an open net after a 2-on-1 with Meier. On the next shift, Hughes intercepted a cross-ice pass by Henry Thrun at the Devils’ blue line and scored on a breakaway.
Bahl’s goal made it 3-1 heading into the third period, where New Jersey added four more goals in the first eight minutes. Sharks coach David Quinn called a timeout after Hischier netted the Devils’ seventh goal.
“When you see guys who don’t usually score, the excitement on the bench was contagious,” Ruff said. “And simultaneously, we tried to respect the game.”
Sturm initially put the Sharks ahead 1-0 late in the first period.
“We kept giving them the puck repeatedly,” Quinn said. “When you keep making plays without caring about the consequences, you end up with a 7-2 loss.”
Meier, who spent seven seasons with the Sharks and had five 20-goal campaigns, returned to San Jose for the first time since being traded to New Jersey last February. Meier thought he had a power-play goal in the second period, but it was disallowed after the Sharks challenged for offside.
The 27-year-old winger, who signed an eight-year extension with the Devils in the offseason, reflected on the experience.
“It definitely feels weird,” Meier said. “I’m happy we won. That’s the big thing. Before the game, there were some emotions, but once you go out there, it’s just business. It’s nice to get those two points.”
UP NEXT
- Devils: Visit the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
- Sharks: Host the Ducks on Thursday.
