Nico Hischier scored the tiebreaking goal on a power play with 6:27 remaining as the New Jersey Devils held on for a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens Saturday afternoon in Newark, N.J.
Hischier scored New Jersey’s first power-play goal in 18 opportunities since Tyler Toffoli scored with the man advantage against the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 15.
Hischier’s goal was only the Devils’ third in their past 48 man advantages spanning 15 games and it occurred 18 seconds after Montreal goalie Jake Allen made a point-blank stop on Jesper Bratt.
After Bratt nearly scored, the Devils regained possession in the defensive zone and quickly moved the puck up ice.
Luke Hughes handed the puck to Toffoli, who found Hischier in the neutral zone. Hischier sped through the slot as Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson tried to defend. As Matheson fell down, Hischier chipped a shot by Allen from near the right side of the crease.
Bratt added an insurance tally on a breakaway three minutes after Hischier scored as the Devils bounced back nicely from a pair of lopsided losses to the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals.
Bratt’s goal wound up being the game-winner when Nick Suzuki scored his second goal of the game with 1:51 remaining after Montreal pulled Allen.
Timo Meier and Ondrej Palat scored in the second period. Toffoli contributed two assists and Meier set up Bratt’s tally by blocking a shot on Arber Xhekaj.
Brendan Gallagher and Suzuki scored in the second as the Canadiens blew a pair of one-goal leads and dropped their fifth straight.
New Jersey goalie Nico Daws made 23 saves while Allen stopped 20 shots.
With 16:54 remaining in the second, Gallagher ripped a slap shot from the high slot over Daws’ right shoulder for a 1-0 lead.
A little over two minutes later, Kevin Bahl got on Toffoli’s pass from behind the net. Bahl faked a shot from the left boards but passed to Meier, who was alone at the right side for the redirection.
Following a turnover by Dawson Mercer, Montreal regained the lead with 6:53 remaining when Suzuki ripped a rising wrist shot from the left circle by Daws.
The Devils tied it with 2:10 left when Palat got the rebound of Simon Nemec’s shot and used Jack Hughes as a screen to send a shot from the lower edge of the left circle by Evans.
–Field Level Media