Devils' Franchise-Record Streak Snapped Despite Valiant 4-1 Rally

 

Photo: Andrew MacLean

The New Jersey Devils suffered their first regulation loss at home this season Saturday night, falling 5-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers at Prudential Center. While the result ended their three-game win streak and allowed the Flyers to extend theirs, the loss carried historical weight: the Devils had tied a franchise record by earning a point in their first 10 consecutive home games (9-0-1) of the season before the defeat. Down 4-1, the Devils mounted a fierce comeback, fueled by a power-play goal from Timo Meier and a stunning, highlight-reel solo effort from Dawson Mercer to pull within a single goal. Though the furious third-period rally, which saw numerous chances and power-play opportunities, ultimately fell short, the team celebrated Simon Nemec becoming only the fifth defenseman in club history to score six goals in a single calendar month.

Philadelphia Flyers Lineup:

Michkov - Couturier - Brink

Zegras - Dvorak - Tippett

Foerster - Cates - Konecny

Grebenkin - Abols - Hathaway

York - Sanheim

Andrae - Drysdale

Seeler - Juulsen

Vladar

Ersson

New Jersey Devils Lineup:

Meier - Hischier - Bratt

Palat - Mercer - Gritsyuk

Cotter - Glass - Brown

Lammikko - Glendening - Noesen

Siegenthaler - Hamilton

Hughes - Nemec

Dillon - White

Markstrom

Allen

Owen Tippett opened the scoring early in the first period to put Philadelphia ahead 1-0 when he slipped in a backhand for his seventh goal of the season past Jacob Markstrom after receiving a centering pass from Christian Dvorak on the rush at 14:42. At 7:51, Simon Nemec answered, tying it 1-1 on his sixth goal of the season off a feed from Jesper Bratt, going on to beat Dan Vladar from the high slot with a one-timer.

53 seconds into the middle frame, Matvei Michkov put the Flyers back in front 2-1 after coming out of the penalty box to score his seventh goal of the season. He drove the net on a 2-on-1, putting a backhand through the pads of Markstrom. Michkov pushed it to 3-1 when Travis Konecny passed back and forth with Cam York before firing a one-timer from the top of the left circle, deflected by Michkov at the edge of the crease. With 6:57 left to play in the second period, Trevor Zegras found the back of the net for his ninth of the season, 4-1. Zegras took a cross-ice pass from Tippett, beating Markstrom from low in the right circle glove side. After Bratt hit the right post on a breakaway at the other end, Zegras struck on the rush. Timo Meier cut it to 4-2 with 27 seconds on the clock with a power-play goal, putting in a rebound from in front by Vladar's right skate.

Dawson Mercer pulled New Jersey within 4-3 at 13:32 of the third period when he won the puck along the right boards from Zegras to then cut to the middle, deked around Egor Zamula, and slipped the puck under Vladar's right pads, who was scrambling, on the backhand. It was Mercer's 10th goal of the season. With 49 seconds and an empty Devils' net, Tippett was awarded an empty-netter for the 5-3 final when he had been tripped on the breakaway, Markstrom pulled for an extra attacker.

Notes:

- Dawson Mercer recorded both a goal and an assist, and Jesper Bratt collected a pair of assists.

- Jacob Markstrom made a total of 27 saves for New Jersey.

- In his past five games, Timo Meier has recorded seven points (four goals, three assists).

- With his assist on Nemec's goal, Nico Hischier extended his point streak to five games (10 points; five goals, five assists).

- Simon Nemec is the fifth defenseman in Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts history to have at least six goals in a calendar month. He joins Dave Pichette (Dec. 1984, 10), Barry Beck (Dec. 1977, 10), Tom Kurvers (Dec. 1988, eight), and Mike McEwen (Dec. 1979, six).

- The Devils are 16-8-1. This was their first loss at home in regulation this season, 9-1-1.

- Owen Tippett had a three-point night, picking up two goals and one assist. Trevor Zegras recorded a goal and an assist. Matvei Michkov scored twice. Travis Konecny picked up a pair of assists. ...In 371 games, Tippett has 202 points: 101 goals, 101 assists. ...Michkov's first goal of the night was the 33rd of his career, which moves him past Peter Zezel for the fourth-most by a Flyers player 20 years old or younger. Only three other players have more: Eric Lindros (76), Simon Gagne (47), and Mike Ricci (41).

- Dan Vladar made a total of 29 saves for Philadelphia.

- The Flyers are 14-7-3. They've won three straight and five of six.