The New Jersey Devils have won three consecutive games for the first time since late December.
On Thursday night, the Devils defeated the Edmonton Oilers by a final score of 3-2. Goaltender Jake Allen made 31 saves on 33 shots. The team now has an eight-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets in the playoff race.
Defenseman Brett Pesce opened the scoring three minutes into the second period. Erik Haula won the draw against Adam Henrique. Jesper Bratt made a beeline to the blue line, allowing Pesce to skate toward the net. While Oilers’ defenseman Troy Stecher was focused on Haula in front of his net, Pesce found a spot and shot the puck past opposing goaltender Stuart Skinner. Haula and Bratt were credited with the assists.
Halfway through the middle frame, The Oilers’ most dangerous weapons tied the game. Leon Draisaitl scored his league-leading 47th goal, with Connor McDavid earning the primary helper.
Edmonton took a 2-1 lead early in the third period, but it would be short-lived. Bratt tied the game at the 6:50 mark. It was the winger’s second shot on Skinner and his second point of the night.
Less than two minutes later, defenseman Simon Nemec scored his first goal of the season, giving his team a 3-2 lead. It was the youngster’s first game back in the lineup after serving as a healthy scratch over the last two.
“I thought he played a good game,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Nemec. “I thought he was assertive, moved the puck, killed some plays defensively and a great shot to finish a great sequence.”
With his primary assist on Nemec’s goal, Bratt earned back-to-back three-point games. It marked his 100th career multi-point game.
The Devils hit the road and play the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena.
Make sure you bookmark THN’s New Jersey Devils site for THN’s latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
The Mental Side of the Game: Devils Players & Mental Skills Coach Andy Swärd Take You Behind the Scenes
EXCLUSIVE: Q&A With MSG Networks Host & Analyst Rachel Herzog
Hischier’s Manager Patrick Fischer: ‘He’s Driven to Succeed, but Not Easily Satisfied’
Read the full article here
