Perhaps, the grass will be greener away from the New Jersey Devils for Dougie Hamilton.
The Devils scratched their star defenseman who is in the midst of trade rumors, and in a 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets at the Canada Life Centre, who came into Sunday tied for 32nd overall in the NHL.
The Devils and Jets nearly got out of a scoreless first period. However, the Jets struck first with just over a minute left in the opening frame.
Arseny Gritsyuk was sent to the box for interference, and the Jets’ power play went to work. Yet, the Devils killed the infraction. However, play resumed in the offensive end of the ice, and a scramble in front of Devils goaltender Jake Allen saw a bouncing puck land over their goal line, which was credited to Alex Iafallo for a 1-0 Winnipeg lead.
Yet, the Devils wouldn’t go into the intermission trailing. Luke Hughes moved the puck from the blueline to a high-danger area in the left circle. He put a shot on goal, and Nico Hischier—battling for net-front position—deposited the loose puck sitting in Connor Hellebuyck’s crease to tie the game, 1-1.
The second period picked up quick, as the Devils took a 2-1 lead just 1:05 into the middle frame. Another primary assist on a cross-ice pass by Luke, this time to Winnipeg native Cody Glass, who redirected the pass by Hellebuyck to take a 2-1 lead.
It was short-lived, however. The Jets struck back after Jonathan Toews led an odd-man rush to the Devils’ end. He fed Cole Perfetti who hit the post on a backhand chance, and Toews deposited the rebound to tie the game at two.
A third Devils goal was called back after Jets head coach Scott Arniel won a coaches challenge for goaltender interference, taking a goal away from Jonas Siegenthaler.
Yet, the Devils kept the foot on the gas, and eventually took a 3-2 lead, again. Jack Hughes pressured Hellebuyck with a high-danger shot which was turned aside, but left a big rebound. Glass picked it up and scored his second to give New Jersey a 3-2 lead 8:08 into the second period.
The Jets tied the game late in the second period. Perfetti drove the net, and his backhand attempt rung iron. However, it went off the back of Allen, and he lost the puck, but Gabe Vilardi didn’t, and he scored to tie the game at three.
Winnipeg took the lead 6:17 into the third period when John Morrissey’s pass connected with Tanner Pearson at the top of New Jersey’s crease, redirected past Allen to give the Jets a 4-3 lead.
The Devils couldn’t find the equalizer in the third, and dropped their fourth straight game to the Jets in regulation.
Allen made 18 saves on 22 shots, and suffered his 11th loss of the season.
