Devils Blow By Penguins 5-2

Getty Images

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 at PPG Paints Arena last night.

Forward Nico Hischier got two goals and two assists, and forward Jack Hughes had two assists in his return from injury for the Devils, who are now 36-14-5 this season. Forward Dawson Mercer added a goal and an assist, and goalie Vitek Vanecek had 29 saves.

Forward Evgeni Malkin had two goals, and goalie Dustin Tokarski made 38 saves for the Penguins, who are now 27-19-9 and have lost their last three out of four games.

Three minutes and 33 seconds into the first period, Malkin scored on the power play to give the Pens the 1-0 lead. Just under five minutes into the game, Mercer tied the game up at 1-1.

Less than four minutes into the second period, defenseman Dougie Hamilton scored on the power play to give the Devils the 2-1 lead. Just over eight minutes into the period, Hischier scored shorthanded to give him his 100th career goal and his team the 3-1 lead.

Eight minutes and 39 seconds into the third, forward Jesper Bratt gave the Devils a 4-1 lead off a one-timer. At 14:43, Geno cut the lead to 4-2 with a wrist shot. With just over two minutes remaining in the game, Hischier scored in the empty net to give the Devils the 5-2 win.

Hughes has gotten 20 points in his last ten games, including at least two points in his previous six games. Devils defenseman Brendan Smith had four blocked shots and played 18:58 in his return from a lower-body injury. Devils defenseman John Marino had a shot on goal and two blocked shots in 24:28 against his former team for the first time since being traded in the summer. He had 64 points in 189 career games with the Penguins. On the Penguins’ side, they now drop to 0-5-3 in their last eight games versus Metropolitan opponents.

Stanley Cup Aspirations Cue’ the Duck Boats Pod

The boys are back after a long break but have plenty to talk about as the playoffs are in full swing. We go series by series, looking at how teams have fared so far and who will come out on top. Thanks for listening! Please rate and review our show on your favorite listening platform. Check out our partner's website at www.insidetherink.com for all your latest hockey news.
  1. Stanley Cup Aspirations
  2. The Final Countdown
  3. Here Come the Playoffs
  4. Home Stretch
  5. Kevy Cooks

Nik Shermeto

PT ‘23 | 🇺🇸/🇨🇦 | Penguins writer for Inside The Rink | Thoughts are my own.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Danny Nelson skating for the USNTDP

2023 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Danny Nelson

The Scouting Report: Danny Nelson from Maple Grove, Minnesota, born on August 3rd, 2005, is an underrated power forward in the 2023 NHL entry draft. For Danny Nelson’s size, listed at 6’3″ and 203 pounds, teams should be lining up for a player with his skillset come draft day. The former defenseman turned winger has […]

Read More
Alex Ciernik skating

2023 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Alex Ciernik

The Scouting Report: Alex Ciernik from Wolfsburg, Germany (Slovakian nationality), born on October 8th, 2004, is a prospect eligible for the 2023 NHL entry draft. Alex Ciernik has flown under the radar due to his size as a winger. Listed at 5’10” and 179 pounds, Ciernik has certainly improved in recent years. Ciernik has split […]

Read More
Arthur Silvos at a Canucks Press Conference

Silovs’ Path to Greatness: Maximizing Potential in the NHL

A Rising Star: Meet Arturs Silovs In the high-stakes world of the National Hockey League (NHL), Arturs Silovs stands as an exciting figure. This standout goaltender, originating from Latvia, is turning heads as a member of the Vancouver Canucks. His stunning performance and unique skill set have opened the floor to discussions about the optimal […]

Read More