James Nichols
The highlight of the night for the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena was when the Pittsburgh Penguins faithful gave golden goalscorer Jack Hughes a standing ovation for solidifying victory for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Then, it was all Penguins, all night.
The fork is found in the kitchen. In other words, the Devils gave up the first goal of the game—once again—to the Penguins in the first period.
Late in the opening frame, Arseny Gritsyuk was assesseed a minor penalty or slashing Penguins defenseman, Parker Wotherspoon, and the Penguins went to the power play.
Nearly a minute into the man advantage for Pittsburgh, Kris Letang’s blast from the point was redirected by Tommy Novak, putting the Penguins ahead 1-0.
It was a slow first period for the Devils, who ended the period in a 9-6 shot differential deficit.
However, the second period got off to a much better start. Similar to how Novak scored—although at even strength—Hughes fed Dougie Hamilton at the Penguins blueline for a one-time blast.
Paul Cotter redirected the Hamilton shot, and tied the game at one.
Dan Muse and the Penguins challenged the Devils goal for goaltender interference. Yet, the challenge went New Jersey’s way, which kept the goal on the board and sending the Devils to the power play.
Yet, the Devils failed to convert on the man advantage, and the three additional power play’s they received in the second period.
The third period was all Penguins as they regained the lead after quickly establishing control of the game.
At the 6:30 mark of the final frame, Ryan Shea’s rocket from the left circle hit the cross bar and bounced to the opposite point to Connor Clifton. The veteran defenseman didn’t hesitate as the puck approached him, wound up, and scored to give the Penguins a 2-1 lead.
50 seconds later, Yegor Chinakhov caught the Devils sleeping. He slipped behind the Devils defense and Evgeni Malkin fed him for a half-breakaway and Chinakhov scored to put the Penguins ahead by two goals, making it a 3-1 game.
The Devils pulled Markstrom with under four minutes remaining and on the man advantage afyer Clifton saled the puck out of play and sat for delay-of-game.
Blake Lizzote hit the empty-net, and sealed the Devils’ 29th loss of the season, and their fifth loss in a row.
Jacob Markstrom’s strong start was wasted. The Swiss goaltender brought a bit of that Olympic swagger back with him. Yet, he surrendered three goals on 33 shots he faced.
