Hischier Calls Game, Devils Defeat Kraken 3-2 In OT

 

Photo: Andrew MacLean

After putting an end to their rough four-game skid earlier in the week, the Devils kept the momentum going when they took on the Seattle Kraken on home ice on Wednesday in a back-and-forth battle that required extra time to decide. The Kraken proved to be a tough out, but New Jersey found a way to break through when it mattered most. Nico Hischier was the hero of the night, netting two goals, including the game-winner, in the final minutes of overtime. It was an unfortunate loss for Seattle, as they had just come off a 4-2 win against the New York Rangers after losing two straight. The Devils host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday before heading on a four-game road trip starting in Calgary on Monday. Seattle will continue their road trip on Thursday, stopping by TD Garden to take on the Boston Bruins.

Seattle Kraken Lineup:

Kakko - Beniers - Eberle

Schwartz - Stephenson - Tolvanen

Catton - Wright - McCann

Winterton - Meyers - Gaudreau

Dunn - Larsson

Lindgren - Fleury

Evans - Oleksiak

Grubauer

Daccord

New Jersey Devils Lineup:

Meier - Hughes - Bratt

Palat - Hischier - Mercer

Gritsyuk - Glass - Brown

Cotter - Glendening - Dadonov

Hughes - Pesce

Siegenthaler - Hamilton

Dillon - Nemec

Markstrom

Allen

Cody Glass got it started just 54 seconds into the opening period, putting New Jersey ahead 1-0 for his 10th goal of the season. Off the face-off, Dougie Hamilton fired from the point and was denied by Philipp Grubauer, but Glass tapped in the rebound in front. At 11:05, Adam Larsson tied it up 1-1 on his fourth of the season when Vince Dunn sent a stretch pass from Seattle's end to Jared McCann, who carried the puck out of the neutral zone before handing it over to Larsson when he drove in for a wrister from the top of the slot.

Early in the second period, Nico Hischier found his 14th goal of the season when he put the Devils back in front 2-1 at 16:27 when Jack Hughes received a pass from his brother, who picked up the puck from along the wall after it bounced out to him before sending it to Jack. He sent a cross-ice pass to Hischier after skating into Seattle's zone, and Hischier scored from just above the right face-off circle on the power play. Not long after the Devils took back the lead, the Kraken answered at 14:54 when McCann found the back of the net just five seconds into the power play to tie it up 2-2, scoring on a rebound of Dunn's shot from near the left face-off circle. It was McCann's 10th goal of the season.

The remainder of the second period, along with the entire third period, stayed scoreless, forcing extra time to decide. With just 1:18 remaining in overtime, Hischier went on a breakaway, scoring with a backhand from in close while falling off a pass from Jack, who got the puck from Luke before passing it to Hischier for the game-winning goal.

Nico Hischier on what he saw with the team/what was different and his overtime goal: "I think you've got to find ways to win hockey games, and it was definitely a different game, I think. Minnesota was trying a little bit more to outskill us, and these guys didn't give us much. I mean, their numbers speak for themselves. I think they're pretty good at defending the rush, they're not giving up a lot, and they're comfortable playing tight games. I think after the first, we really reacted well, and took our game to another level in the right direction of how we got to play against these guys." - "I wanted to take it on my forehand, but saw pressure coming there too... It's kind of like instinct, I guess. The last second, I'm trying to go to my backhand because he thinks I'm going on my forehand too, so it worked out pretty well."

Timo Meier on some of the difficulties in this game compared to what was seen in Minnesota: "Obviously, a different kind of team. I think they play a very patient game. They're very good at defending the rush. So it took us, you know, to play a dialing game with the puck. We had to be disciplined and not force things, especially off the rush that wasn't there. I think we did, for most parts of the game, we did a good job. Outstanding performance by Nico there to get us two points at the end."

Jack Hughes on some of the consistencies he saw within the Devils' style of play as a team: "I think we played well tonight. You know, we're trying to stick to a system and just play hard and competitive. The teams that have beaten us over the last little while, that's what they do. They just play a 60-minute game, they play competitively, and that's what we need to do. So, it's a good team win out of us, and we'd like to keep it rolling now."

Notes:

- With his overtime goal, Nico Hischier scored the seventh game-winner of his career, tying for fourth most in franchise history with Zach Parise.

- Jacob Markstrom made a total of 15 saves for New Jersey.

- Both Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes recorded two assists.

- The Devils are 24-21-2, winning two straight following a four-game losing streak.

- Philipp Grubauer made a total of 23 saves for Seattle.

- Jared McCann picked up both a goal and an assist, and Vince Dunn collected a pair of assists.

- The Kraken (21-15-9) has one regulation loss in their past 13 games (9-1-3).