NHL Game Recap: Markstrom Makes 30 Saves For The Devils In 3-1 Win

On Thursday, October 17th, the Devils played against the Senators in Ottawa at the Canadian Tire Centre. Jacob Markstrom stopped 30 of 31 shots for New Jersey, almost getting a shutout. Paul Cotter, Erik Haula, and Nathan Bastian all scored for the Devils in their 3-1 victory. This is their first win after having a two-game streak (5-3 against Washington, 3-0 against Utah)… the streak broke when they took on the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, losing 4-2. Brady Tkachuk scored the lone goal for Ottawa, making sure to stay away from getting shutout. The Devils will be back in New Jersey on Saturday to host the Washington Capitals.

New Jersey Devils Lineup:

Meier – Hischier – Mercer

Cotter – Hughes – Bratt

Tatar – Haula – Noesen

Palat – Lazar – Bastian

Dillon – Hamilton

Siegenthaler – Kovacevic

Casey – Nemec

Markstrom

Allen

Ottawa Senators Lineup:

Tkachuk – Stutzle – Giroux

Gregor – Norris – Batherson

Perron – Pinto – Amadio

Cousins – Gaudette – Macewen

Sanderson – Hamonic

Chabot – Jensen

Kleven – Bernard-Docker

Forsberg

Sogaard

After a scoreless first period, Erik Haula broke the ice when he gave New Jersey a 1-0 lead early into the middle frame at 17:21. He tipped in a point shot from Johnathan Kovacevic past Anton Forsberg. Nathan Bastian made it a 2-0 lead for the Devils not long after Haula’s goal at 13:34 when he scored with a short-handed goal during a 2-on-1, beating Forsberg with a wrist shot low blocker.

Paul Cotter sent home his fifth goal of the season late in the third with 7:21 remaining in regulation to push it to 3-0. Cotter dropped to one knee, one-timing a rebound in the slot. With little time left on the clock, the Devils and Jacob Markstrom were just about to shutout Ottawa until Brady Tkachuk got the first and only Senators goal in past Markstrom. He redirected a wrist shot by Claude Giroux from the slot on the power play while the Senators had an empty net with 1:05 on the clock.

Jacob Markstrom on being in the net and the defensive effort by the Devils: “It feels good. I think the more games we play together, the better the chemistry I feel like we’re having, especially with the D. I thought they did a fantastic job today and the penalty kill is doing a great job… the guys made it easy for me today,” – “I liked everything. I think we were kind of back and forth a little, the game was up for grabs, and then we get a big goal from our own in the back of their net… then penalty kill comes up big with Bass, scoring a big goal for us. So, it was a solid game through and through.”

Erik Haula on deflecting Kovacevic’s shot, what he likes about the Devils’ ability to challenge teams/having a good power play, and Markstrom: “Just tried to time it. Timo made a great play and Kovie had some time… he waited patiently and my little fly-by screen got a tip on it. Good timing and good shot by Kovie,” – “I think we’re doing a good job. We got multiple guys who can kill, and we changed a few things and it’s been going alright. Kind of not so happy about that last one, obviously. I think Marky played great again today… gave up a late one, took the shutout away on the power play – that was kind of a bummer, but he’s been awesome. It would’ve been cool if he scored today, that was close.”

Notes:

– Jacob Markstrom, who had been acquired from the Calgary Flames in a trade for defenseman Kevin Bahl and a first-round pick in the 2025 Draft on June 19th, is 3-2-0 in his first five starts for New Jersey.

– Paul Cotter has five goals in seven games this season… he had only seven goals in 76 games in 2023-24.

– Forward Stef Noesen had a game-high six shots.

– Anton Forsberg made a total of 33 saves for the Ottawa Senators.

– Ottawa Senators defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker had two shots and had been minus-1 in 14:55 of ice time in his season debut.