Devils open their four-game road trip with a victory against the Wild
SAINT PAUL, MN<\/strong> – The Devils had their best start to a game of the season, staking out a 3-0 lead, before fending off a Wild surge to hold on for a 5-3 victory at Xcel Energy Center Thursday night.
“We came out and scored the first goal, went and got the second one,” head coach Lindy Ruff said. “We stayed on our toes. We created a lot of opportunities with forecheck pressure. Really solid.”
Alexander Holtz, Michael McLoed and Timo Meier scored the game\u2019s opening goals.
Kirill Kaprizov and Marco Rossi responded for Minnesota. Rossi\u2019s goal came 70 seconds into the third period to make it a one-goal game.
Jesper Bratt\u2019s power-play goal with under five minutes to play gave the Devils a little breathing room at 4-2, but the Wild cut right back with 3:33 to play on a Jake Middleton score to make it 4-3. Dougie Hamilton sealed it with the team’s third power-play goal with 37 seconds remaining.
The Devils scored three power-play goals, which was the difference-maker.
“RIght now they’re making a lot of great plays, a lot of great opportunities,” Ruff said. “The zone time has been really good. The entries have been good. When you need a big goal we’ve been able to get it. Late in the game we needed a little bit of space and again the power play got it done.”
The Devils were under a lot of pressure from the Wild for the enitre third periood but were able to fend off Minnesota.
The Devils sweep the home-and-home series against Minnesota with the 4-3 victory against Minnesota Sunday in New Jersey. The Devils also started their four-game road trip with a victory.
“We’re starting off great, playing the right way,” Bratt said. “The start was good. Now just keep it going.”
The Devils defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-3.
Here are some observations from the game:
\u2022 How about that Devils power play? They scored goals No. 15, 16 and 17 of the season and continue to roll. New Jersey has scored a power-play goal in eight of their nine games (the only game in which they didn\u2019t they went 0-for-1 agasint Washington). New Jersey scored a much-needed third-period power-play goal (Bratt) to make it 4-2 and gain some breathing room. It was the eventual game-winner. Hamilton iced the game with the third man-advantage tally of the night.
“It’s been good. It’s been working,” Bratt said. “We’re dialed in on it. We talk a lot about it. We work on it. We want to be a power play that changes the momentum for the team and brings a lot of energy, scoring chances and momentum to the team. It’s been exciting so far. We’re having a lot of threats, our rotation has been good. It’s worked so far. We just have to keep that going and getting better everyday at it.”
The unit continues its outrageous 40-plus percentage success rate. Moral of the story, it would behoove opponents to stay out of the box.
\u2022 With captain Nico Hischier still out with an upper-body injury, McLeod has been elevated into his position pivoting Ondrej Palat and Jesper Bratt. When I asked him during the afternoon of the game about playing with the two talents, he said \u201cI just play my game and try to win pucks back to them and try to get to the net.\u201d That\u2019s exactly what he did late in the first period and it led to a goal.
McLeod won a wall battle in the offensive zone. Worked the puck to Bratt and then planted himself at the side of the crease. Bratt found Palat, who had a free lane to the net. McLeod got inside of Minnesota\u2019s Jake Middleton. Palat cut to the net and make cross-crease pass to McLeod. Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson bit on the shot and McLeod had an easy tap in. But it was all the result of \u201cwinning pucks back to\u201d Bratt and Palat getting \u201cto the net.\u201d Sounds almost prophetic.
“It’s easy when you have guys like Bratt and Palat that can make those plays at the blue line,” McLeod said. “It’s getting more space for them like I was saying this morning. Getting to the net. They made a great play and it was a pretty easy goal from there.”
“We needed a guy to fill in for Nico. He’s stepped in and doing a great job,” Ruff said.
\u2022 A great example of the importance of winning puck battles can be seen on Hotlz\u2019s game-opening goal. On the scoring sequence, McLeod had the puck low in the offensive and was taking a beating from the Wild players. But he held onto the puck. He worked it to Bastian. He was also being hounded by Middleton. But Bastian also maintained possession, carried the puck around the goal and found Holtz jumping in on the play with a pass. Holtz finished it, but it was the Devils\u2019 strength on the puck that led to the score.
“Right from the start we had a good middle lane drive,” Bratt said. “We were heavy on the puck down low on the first goal. That’s when we can use our play and skill after. … Playing a team like Minnesota, they’re a tough team, they’re hard on the wall. Those are the battles you have to win. If you win those puck battles you can start using your speed and your skill. If you don’t it’s gong to be a long night. I thought we did a good job of that tonight.”
\u2022 Bratt\u2019s assist on McLeod\u2019s first-period goal extended his scoring streak to eight games. He finished with a goal and three assists for a career-high four-point night and 17 points (7g-11a) on the streak. So, has Bratt been doing better this season?
“Can I answer with everything?” Ruff joked. “He’s skating extremely well. His small-ice play, his turn-ups, his evasiveness when people are closing in on him has been really good. And he’s shooting the puck extremely well.”
\u2022 Jack Hughes picked up two assists in the game, giving him 20 points (5g-15a) through nine games. He’s only the fourth player to hit that milestone since 1993-94. He tied Leon Draisaitl’s 20 from 2021-22 while trailing on Mario Lemieux (31 points, 1995-96) and Wayne Gretzky (22, 1993-94).\u00a0
\u2022 Meier\u2019s goal extended his point streak to six games with eight points (2g-6a).
The Devils continue their four-game road swing with a game in St. Louis Friday night for the second half of a back-to-back affair. You can watch on MSGSN2 or listen on the Devils Hockey Network. Puck drop is 8:08 p.m. ET. <\/p>\n