James Nichols
Paul Cotter is the New Jersey Devils‘ best player one-on-one with a goaltender in front of him.
Hosting the Boston Bruins at the Prudential Center, Cotter netted the overtime winner, which also capped a three assist night for Jack Hughes, who is a new record holder for the Devils.
Just four minutes into the first period, the Devils’ defense was caught sleeping and the Bruins made them pay.
Henri Jokiharju’s shot from the point was blockered away by Jacob Markstrom. However, the puck bounced off David Pastrnak, who stood at the net-front all along, collected the loose puck, and slid it between Markstrom’s five-hole to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
The Bruins continued to dominate the puck throughout the first period. Just about four minutes after the Bruins’ goal, Brenden Dillon and Mark Kastelic dropped the mitts after tensions built in front of New Jersey’s net. Each received five minute majors for fighting.
Boston kept the pressure on New Jersey, and eventually doubled their lead when Pavel Zacha finished an odd-man rush chance led by Viktor Arvidsson to make it a 2-0 game.
The Devils got off to a quick start in the second period, scoring within the first minute of puck drop. Jack forced a turnover in the neutral zone, and started toward the Boston zone. The Devils star fed Connor Brown who was already behind the Boaton defense, sprung him for a breakaway, and he scored blocker side to cut the Devils deficit to 2-1.
Jack’s primary assist set a Devils franchise record, as he’s now the fastest ever to 400 points for New Jersey, reaching the milestone in 414 games.
The middle frame continued to be all Devils as they sought to erase their first period shortfall. New Jersey’s top line continued to go to work by giving the Bruins defense a headache. Jut over eight minutes into the period, Jack led a rush up the ice, fed Brown in the middle of the ice, who then dished the puck to Jesper Bratt for a one-time chance in the right circle and he tied the game, 2-2.
Just under three minutes into the third period, the Devils quickly took a 3-2 lead. Maxim Tsyplakov drove the net with the puck on his backhand, and dumped it to the slot for Paul Cotter who scored.
Yet, Pastrnak answered quickly with a slick toe drag of his own, and slid the puck past Markstrom who the Bruins forward faked out of position to restore the tie at three.
The Devils and Bruins traded a barrage of penalties which started with a high hit on Cotter by Kastelic. Johnathan Kovacevic stepped up to drop the gloves with the Bruins forward, forcing Kastelic to fight a second time on Monday.
New Jersey then commited three minor penalties, and Boston was whistled for one. Yet, neither team cashed in on the advantage.
The Devils and Bruins required overtime, and the thrilling period nearly went to a shootout.
However, Jack collected a loose puck in the neutral zone and pushed it up the ice to a streaking Cotter. On a breakaway, Cotter netted the overtime winner and solidified the Devils’ second win in as many games.
Markstrom collected his 20th win of the season, stopping 19 pucks on 22 shots.
