Hischier's Hat Trick Leads Devils to 5-2 Win vs. Wild
Nico Hischier's hat trick in a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild helped the New Jersey Devils inch closer to a playoff spot.
Follow us on Twitter: @AlexC_NJD, @NJD_OnTheRush
Follow me on Bluesky
Nico Hischier, take a bow. The New Jersey Devils fell 4-0 in a tough loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night, but the captain was there to pick them up in Minnesota against the Wild last night. Hischier scored 29 seconds into the game to set the tone en route to his hat trick and the 5-2 win.
Hischier wasn't the only Devil who stood out, either. Just about everyone played a solid game, especially Jacob Markström, who had one of his best starts since returning from an MCL sprain a few weeks ago.
Hischier Leads the Way
The Devils' top players have been stepping up in Jack Hughes, Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler's absences, and Hischier was the latest to lead the team to an important win in their playoff push.
It started in the first period when Stefan Noesen made a good outlet pass to Jesper Bratt to start a 2-on-1. Bratt eventually shot for a rebound off Filip Gustavsson's right pad, knowing Hischier would complete his route and win the race to the puck to give the Devils a 1-0 lead.
Hischier's second goal was a bit similar since it also came off the rush. He gained the neutral zone with plenty of speed, backing the Wild defenders off and sniping one past Gustavsson for a 3-1 Devils lead. However, he saved his best for last.
After Luke Hughes fired a shot high and wide on the power play, Hischier gloved the puck, bringing it to the ice and quickly shooting it off Gustavsson's back to give the Devils a 4-2 lead. That turned out to be the deciding factor, as the Wild were making a push before that power-play goal.
Sheldon Keefe reunited Hischier with Bratt and Noesen for yesterday's game, and they went to work, finishing with an expected goals share (xG%) of 63.7 percent. They caused plenty of problems for the Wild, especially early in the game, so expect Keefe to stick with them for the rematch at the Prudential Center tomorrow night.
Markström Looked Sharp
The Devils will need Jake Allen or Markström to go nuclear in a first-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes to have a chance at the upset. That's why it's good to have both netminders in a groove to close the season, and perhaps last night was a turning point for Markström.
It's no secret that it's been a struggle for Markström since he's returned. His save percentage was around just .845 entering last night's game since he returned from the injury. He wasn't particularly sharp in the 5-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks, but yesterday was arguably his best start since before getting hurt.
The Devils played well in front of Markström, but he made some timely saves when the team needed him to. His best came when he made a left shoulder stop on Ryan Hartman in the third period when the Devils had just a 3-2 lead.
Markström also made a sharp glove save on Devin Shore from the slot in the second period. He showed some snarl, as he wasn't afraid to get into a couple of scrums in what was a very physical game.
Markström made 22 saves on 24 shots while giving up two goals on 1.85 expected goals. That adds up with the eyes, as both Wild goals were a result of insane redirects from Marcus Foligno. There was nothing Markström could have done about either. If it's a sign of things to come, he could be rounding into form at the right time.
Every Devil Contributed
The Devils haven't had enough top-to-bottom performances this season, even when everyone has been healthy, but they bucked the trend last night. Brian Dumoulin and Nolan Foote picked up the assists on Paul Cotter's goal to give the team a 2-0 lead.
Daniel Sprong didn't pick up a point, but he played well. His stretch pass in the neutral zone helped set up Cotter's goal, and he was generally good on the puck.
Tomáš Tatar has been the best of the Devils' fourth-liners this season, though that's a low bar to clear. But he put the game to bed with a snipe to make it 5-2 late in the third period.
It's been a struggle for Šimon Nemec this season, but that was arguably his best all-around performance of 2024-25. A few minutes after Hischier's first goal, Nemec did well to break up a developing 2-on-1 that could have resulted in a grade-A chance.
In the second period, Nemec was well-positioned and cleared a pass out of the slot to prevent a high-danger opportunity. He played just above 15 minutes at five-on-five and finished with a 57.66 xG%. More performances like that will do. And not just from Nemec, but from everyone.
Quick Hits
Luke Hughes missed Friday's game with a groin injury, but he looked no worse for wear. His defensive play on the first shift of the game led to the 2-on-1 that resulted in Hischier's first goal. Shot attempts were 18-9 with Hughes on the ice at five-on-five, and he finished with an xG% just above 55 percent. His offensive ability from the back end makes a big difference since Hamilton is out for the remainder of 2024-25.
Jeremy Colliton continues to be an unsung hero. The Devils' power play could have fallen apart after the Hughes and Hamilton injuries, but it remains a strength. Since Hughes' injury, the Devils are 11/33 on the man advantage (33.3 percent), and they're generating plenty of quality looks. That speaks volumes to coaching that the Devils can be without players like Hughes and Hamilton and not miss a beat on the power play.
Keefe said something that caught my eye after yesterday's game. When replying to a question from Bill Spaulding, Keefe mentioned that the Devils are trying to increase their offensive pace. Yesterday was the first time the team had 30+ shots on goal since a 5-0 win over the Nashville Predators on Feb. 23. The Wild are one of the better defensive teams in the NHL, but the Devils had their way offensively. Let's see if that trend continues to close 2024-25.
Game Score Chart
Advanced stats from Natural Stat Trick