Devils' 3-2 OT Win vs. Predators: A Much-Needed 2 Points
Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt & Dougie Hamilton helped the New Jersey Devils earn a much-needed 2 points.
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The New Jersey Devils still face an improbable climb to make the playoffs, but their hopes would have been next to impossible had they lost to the Nashville Predators yesterday. Fortunately, they managed to secure two points in overtime.
For a while, it looked like it was going to be the same old Devils. Play well, but not score enough goals to win. At least for last night, it wasn’t the same old story, thanks to the team’s best players.
Devils’ Top Players Led the Way
There are different reasons the Devils have fallen out of the playoff picture this season. Injuries are one, but their top players not scoring enough is another.
They faced another injury last night, with Jack Hughes leaving the game in the first period after 2:27 of ice time. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Hughes’ injury is not believed to be serious, but still, the Devils played nearly the entire game without their best player.
Usually, that would have been game, set and match, but the Devils’ other top players stepped up in his absence. Dougie Hamilton continued to stay hot, as his goal extended his point streak to 10 games. His goal was a vintage Hamilton goal, as he wired a snipe past Justus Annunen.
Hamilton did make a soft play trying to clear the puck in the defensive zone on the Predators’ second goal, but Jesper Bratt was there to pick him up later in the third. After Dawson Mercer made a great play to force a turnover, Bratt retrieved the loose puck and showed off his silky mitts to tie the game at 2-2.
The Devils played a smart game from there and got some timely saves from Jacob Markström to get to overtime. Once in the extra period, Nico Hischier fired an absolute bomb bar down for the game-winner. That goal came courtesy of some great work from Mercer once again.
Keefe shortened the bench and essentially played nine forwards once Hughes got hurt, so Hischier and Bratt logged plenty of ice time. Even with the extra minutes, they played strong games at five-on-five.
Hischier finished the game with an expected goals share (xG%) of 54.57 percent, and scoring chances were 15-11 with him on the ice. Meanwhile, Bratt finished with an xG% of 58.33, with scoring chances being 12-7 with him on the ice.
The Devils would have been nine points out of a playoff spot with 28 games to go had they lost yesterday. Their odds are still not great, but their top players came through and extended the hope for just a bit longer.
Hämeenaho Continues to Impress
Devils games may be hard watches right now, but Lenni Hämeenaho is a good reason to keep tuning in. He has been one of the team’s best forwards since getting called up last week, and he was arguably their best forward last night.
Hamilton’s goal does not happen without Hämeenaho. After Arseny Gritsyuk fed the puck to Hämeenaho on the zone entry, the Finnish rookie made a great move to open space in the middle of the ice.
Hämeenaho then stick handled to keep puck possession and found a trailing Hamilton, who fired a rocket past Annunen to tie the game at 1-1.
Even a couple of minutes before Hamilton’s goal, Hämeenaho had a great shift where he helped draw a Devils power play. The Devils did not score on the man advantage, but drawing penalties is always a plus.
Because of Hughes’ injury, Hämeenaho found himself playing alongside Hischier and Gritsyuk for most of the game. Their results as a line:
8-5 shot attempts
97.12 xG%
5-2 scoring chances
1-0 goals
If Hughes can’t go against the Ottawa Senators tomorrow, don’t be shocked if Keefe keeps Hämeenaho with Gritsyuk and Hischier. We know what Gritsyuk can bring, but Hämeenaho is already showing he can be a valuable contributor. Perhaps he can help the Devils unlock more offense playing alongside Hischier and Gritsyuk.
Markström Stands Tall
I think most of us thought Jacob Markström could be in for a rough night after the first goal he gave up, but he came to play yesterday.
Yes, the first goal was not good. That can’t go in, but Markström made plenty of timely saves afterward. Some of his best work came on the penalty kill, which had another solid night.
The Predators’ power play came into last night’s game red hot, and it’s easy to see why. They have plenty of firepower on their first unit, and they move the puck around quickly. Markström was excellent on the PK, though, saving all six shots he faced.
For the game, Markström made 27 saves on 29 shots while stopping 1.10 goals above expected. It would be nice if he could do that more consistently because the Devils might be in a better place in the standings. But it wouldn’t hurt to get hot heading into the Olympic break.
Quick Hits
Maxim Tsyplakov, acquired in the Ondřej Palát trade, didn’t have much of a debut. Unfortunately, he was one of the players Keefe benched after Hughes got hurt, so he logged just above seven minutes of ice time. Keefe said it wasn’t the look he was hoping to give him, so we’ll see what comes next. There’s not much to take away from his first game as a Devil.
One player the Devils need much more from is Timo Meier, who has just three points across his last 14 games. He has created chances over that stretch, totaling 52 shots on goal, but he’s shooting just 3.8 percent. Perhaps he can get hot against a Senators team that has had the worst goaltending in the NHL this season.
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