Jacob Markstrom wasn’t just the best player for the New Jersey Devils (20-16-1) on Tuesday night, but he was the best player on the ice for both teams. He flashed leather, made significant pad saves, and fought his way through traffic. He was downright terrific, and showed the Devils brass the goaltender they hoped for when they signed him to a new two-year extension.
Until he didn’t.
The New York Islanders (20-13-4) earned two points at UBS Arena in the eve of Christmas Eve against the Devils in late-game heroics by Adam Pelech, sending New Jersey home after a 2-1 loss.
In the first period, it was evident neither team dipped into the holiday eggnog early, as both the Devils and the Islanders displayed a fast-pace in the opening frame.
The Devils tested Islanders goaltender, David Rittich, early. However, the Islanders kept pace, giving Markstrom jut as much work in New Jersey’s end of the ice.
The ice was eventually tilted in New Jersey’s direction. The Nico Hischier line displayed some dominant puck possession. In fact, the Devils captain fed Brett Pesce at the blueline at the 4:25 mark, and with open ice in front of him, Pesce gained ground and scored on Rittich to give the Devils a 1-0 lead.
The second period started similarly to the first. Chances were traded by the Devils and Islanders equally, as the pace of play maintained a fast status.
However, the Islanders began to break away from New Jersey offensively, earning more high-danger chances through the first 10 minutes of the middle frame.
Yet, it would be a critical mistake on the Devils’ part that saw the Islanders tie the game at one. A miscue in the Devils’ zone sent the puck from New York’s blueline to the Devils’ end of the ice alongside the far wall.
Markstrom played the puck at the wall, leaving his net empty. However, his attempted zone clear hit Jonas Siegenthaler, leaving the puck loose for Simon Holmstrom in the slot, and the Islanders forward tied the game at one goal apiece.
One of the Devils’ best chance to re-gain the lead in the third period was when Jesper Bratt skated his way behind the Islanders defense, and to the top of Rittich’s crease. He had the Islander goaltender dead to rights. Yet, failed to lift the puck over Rittch with basically a wide-open net.
The other was a failed breakaway by Connor Brown, after Rittich stayed with the Devils forward and maintained the tie with a pad save.
Another goaltending miscue in the Devils’ zone nearly saw the Islanders take their first lead. However, Markstrom was able to regain his crease and the Devils neutralized the threat.
Yet, it was the Islanders who eventually broke the stalemate, scoring late in the third period with 1:15 remaining on the clock.
An odd-man rush between Mathew Barzal, Anders Lee, and Simon Holmstrom didn’t fall. Yet, Adam Pelech buried the rebound with Markstrom displaced from his net after the initial scoring attempt.
Markstrom made 23 saves on 25 shots against the Islanders in his eighth loss of the season.
