The Devils are fourth in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 21-14-2.
The New Jersey Devils earned their 21st win of the season Friday night versus the Chicago Blackhawks, earning a 4-2 victory. Alexander Holtz, Simon Nemec, Michael McLeod, and Tyler Toffoli scored for New Jersey, while Jason Dickinson and Boris Katchouk found the back of the net for Chicago.
While it's true that on any given day, any team can beat any opponent, this was a game that, on paper, should have resulted in the Devils skating off with two points. The Blackhawks were finishing a back-to-back set with a record of 0-6-0 in the second game and dropped four consecutive contests. On the other side of the ice, the Devils began a back-to-back set with a record of 7-1-0 in the first game and won their last two outings.
The Blackhawks scored the game's opening goal on the power play and entered the first intermission with a 1-0 lead. Holtz scored his ninth goal of the season at the halfway mark of the second period. Chicago regained their lead when Katchouk scored shorthanded.
The third period was all New Jersey, as they tied things up a little over five minutes in. McLeod was credited with his second straight game-winning goal with eight minutes remaining in the game.
The Devils held on and completed their 14th comeback win of the 2023-24 season.
"We had a real hockey game break out," Ruff said postgame. "I told the guys, 'We've got some hockey, we've got some hockey to play, chins up here'. It was fun, it was entertaining, that brings teams together right there."
Five Things
1. Brendan Smith Sets The Tone
A little over halfway through the first period, Connor Bedard skated into the Devils zone. In his way was Brendan Smith, who delivered a clean hit to the first overall pick. Bedard skated to the locker room while his teammate, Nicholas Foligno, went after Smith. After that hit, 64 penalty minutes were handed out between the two teams.
Bedard did not return to the game, and in the second period, the Blackhawks announced that Foligno would also miss the remainder of play.
2. Jack Hughes Leaves With Injury
Jack Hughes fell awkwardly late in the third period and did not finish the game. During his postgame press conference, head coach Lindy Ruff said he did not have an update on the 22-year-old.
3. Bratt's New Career High
On Friday night, Jesper Bratt fired a career-high nine shots at Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom. Per the media notes, his previous high was eight, back on Feb. 14, 2019, in Chicago).
4. McLeod Reaches New Career High for Goals in Single Season
McLeod's game-winning goal was his 10th of the season, marking a new career-high for goals in a single season. He has three points over his last two games.
5. Simon Nemec's Big Night
Nemec collected a goal and an assist versus the Blackhawks. It was his second career multi-point game.
Per NHL Pr, Nemec "became the third Devils/Scout/Rockies defenseman to record multiple multi-point games as a teenager. The others are Scott Niedermayer (six games played) and Joe Cirella (two games played).