The New Jersey Devils didn’t just need the win, but they needed a win like this.
One where the depth came through, finally waking up, and not only contributed, but dominated the scoresheet.
The Ottawa Senators had no answer for the Devils’ third line made up of Arseny Gritsyuk, Cody Glass, and Connor Brown, who tallied eight points collectively.
The victory snapped a five-game skid, and now New Jersey has momentum to build on, after getting back to their structure, and finding the middle of the ice, again.
Let’s dive into tonight’s 4-3 victory in Ottawa.
First Period
Off the opening draw, the Devils forced the Senators deep into their own zone, and applied some early pressure. Yet, it was quickly negated when Stefan Noesen was penalized 36 seconds into the first for high-sticking Brady Tkachuk.
On the ensuing man advantage for Ottawa, Drake Batherson deposited a loose puck at the top of Jacob Markstrom‘s crease to give the Senators a 1-0 lead, scoring on their first shot.
Shortly after Ottawa scored, the Devils went to the power play for delay of game by Nikolas Matinpalo. That penalty expired, however, on a rush shortly after even strength resumed, Connor Brown dropped a puck to Simon Nemec in the Senators slot, and he blasted the rubber by Linus Ullmark to tie the game at one.
At the 11:31 mark, Brenden Dillon took a tripping penalty, and the Devils PK went back to work. Yet, Tim Stützle regained the Senators lead on a wrister, scoring Ottawa’s second power play goal in as many advantages, forcing the Devils behind again, 2-1.
The Devils kept pushing back, however, and the Devils’ third line maintained offensive zone possession. Brown streaking up the left wall and toward the Ottawa goal threw a puck on net. Ullmark made the initial rebound, however, Arseny Gritsyuk tapped in the rebound to tie the game again at two.
Second Period
Some early emotions sparked some post-whistle action in the opening minutes of the second period. As a result, Angus Crookshank and Tyler Kleven each sat for roughing, and the two sides played the following two minutes at four-on-four.
Jordan Spence dropped a pass in the neutral zone, however, Paul Cotter intercepted the puck and sprung himself for a breakaway. He beat Ullmark five-hole on a forehand, backhand move, and the Devils took their first lead of the game, 3-2.
Yet, Nico Hischier is sent to the box for slashing, and after Brenden Dillon turned the puck over below the Devil goal line, Batherson scored his second of the night, making New Jersey pay by tying the game at three.
The Senators scored on all three power play chances at this point, and the two sides went into the second intermission tied at three.
Third Period
The ice was even to start the third period, with the Devils and Senators trading even strength chances. That was until Tkachuk went to the box for goaltender interference, giving the Devils a man advantage at the 6:46 mark of the third.
The Senators killed off the infraction, however, and even strength play ensued.
Yet, the Devils sprung for a 2-on-1 chance between Hischier and Jesper Bratt. Bratt sent a pass to the Devils captain on the rush, but Hischier hit the crossbar and the three-all tie continued.
However, the Devils third line continued to pressure in the offensive zone, and Brown won another board battle to retrieve the puck below the Ottawa goal line. He kicked the puck up to Gritsyuk on Ullmark’s doorstep, who then passed it to Cody Glass on the other side of the net for a tap-in goal, giving the Devils back their one-goal lead at 4-3.
The Senators pulled Ullmark for the extra attacker with just over two minutes remaining in the game.
Despite some late pressure from Ottawa, the Devils hang on to snap their five-game losing skid and win 4-3 in regulation.
Markstrom earned his eighth win of the season with 34 saves on 37 shots, and made 1.08 saves above expected.
