Nico Hischier had his second four-point career game (one goal, three assists) and Jack Hughes had his 10th three-point game of the season (one goal, two assists) in New Jersey's 7-2 win against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, February 27th at the SAP Center. The Devils handed the Sharks their fourth straight loss after they had won 6-3 against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, February 15th. This was Timo Meier's first game against the Sharks, his former team, since being traded on February 26th, 2023.
Devils lineup against the Sharks:
Meier - Hischier - Bratt
Palat - Hughes - Lazar
Toffoli - Haula - Mercer
Tierney - Holtz
Bahl - Marino
Hughes - Smith
Siegenthaler - Nemec
Miller
Daws
Schmid
Sharks lineup against the Devils:
Duclair - Granlund - Zetterlund
Kunin - Eklund - Zadina
Barabanov - Sturm - Labanc
Bailey - Carpenter - Hoffman
Ferraro - Emberson
Thrun - Rutta
Burroughs - Addison
Blackwood
Kahkonen
Nico Sturm began the scoring with his fourth goal of the season, getting San Jose the first lead. Sturm tapped in a backdoor pass late into the first period at 1:43, the pass from Alexander Barabanov.
Getting New Jersey on the board and tying it at 1-1 - Jesper Bratt tapped a return pass from Timo Meier into an open net early into the second at 16:31. Jack Hughes put the Devils ahead 2-1 soon after Bratt's goal at 15:54. After breaking Henry Thrun's pass at the blue line, Hughes scored five-hole on a partial breakaway. It had appeared that Timo Meier scored on the power play but San Jose successfully challenged it for offside. However, Kevin Bahl got that goal back with his first goal of the season at 6:52 from the top of the left circle with a slap shot.
Colin Miller struck his third of the season to extend the Devils' lead to 4-1 when he shot from the right point through a screen. Making it a 5-1 game, Brendan Smith at 14:59 of the third frame... Dawson Mercer pushed it to 6-1 soon after at 13:03. Nico Hischier made it a 7-1 game from the top of the left circle, beating Kaapo Kahkonen blocker side. Scoring his fifth goal of the season for the 7-2 final, Justin Bailey sent a shot through traffic.
Timo Meier on the Devils' win, the biggest thing he'd take from it, and mentality: "Just sticking with it. Being down one-nothing in the first and then just kind of staying patient, believing in our game plan, not going off it, and going on our own page. We did a good job of that," - "It's definitely important that we, just mentally, there's going to be times where you're down and you just got to stick with it. We got a game plan and if everybody buys in on this, then we're going the right way."
Kevin Bahl on the win and the team's mindset: "I thought it was just good to see everybody get out there, be happy, and I think it was a big one to build some confidence. Just keep it rolling and focus on the next game now," - "Dealing with pressure, you got to learn how to deal with pressure. Where we are in the standings and everything... Just with a bit more enthusiasm and stuff like that, I think if we keep that rolling, we can be real successful."
Notes:
- Jesper Bratt had a goal and an assist, and Timo Meier recorded two assists. Nico Daws made 29 saves for New Jersey.
- Nico Hischier got to the 20-goal mark for the fourth time... Hischier also hit 200 NHL career assists. Jack Hughes has 10 three-point games this season, becoming the fourth player in New Jersey Devils history to have that many in a season. Hughes joins Kirk Muller (11, 1987-88), Aaron Broten (10, 1987-88), and John MacLean (1988-89).
- MacKenzie Blackwood made 13 saves before sustaining a lower-body injury in the first period... Kaapo Kahkonen allowed seven on 31 shots.
*All photos used by the New Jersey Devils used with permission*
I just don't expect anything but to see a loss for the Sharks.
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