New Jersey's record is 8-6-1.
"Ultimately, I think that's as close to a full 60 minutes we've had this year."
It was all hands on deck when the New Jersey Devils faced the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. The team was already missing their top two centers, and to add insult to injury, Timo Meier missed the game with a lower-body injury.
The Devils entered the game on a three-game losing streak, while the Penguins won their previous five. If New Jersey wanted to walk away with a victory, it would require a full 60-minute team effort, and thankfully, that's exactly what they got.
The Devils earned a 5-2 victory over the Penguins, with Vitek Vanecek making 21 saves on 23 shots. Curtis Lazar, Nathan Bastian, Jesper Bratt, Alexander Holtz, and Tyler Toffoli scored for New Jersey, while Bryan Rust scored twice for Pittsburgh.
"What I look at is the even-strength goals. We've really struggled with finishing opportunities," Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said. "I think tonight we capitalized on the good opportunities. We're not talking about missed opportunities, finally. We got that third one, and I think what was really important was getting that fourth to create a little bit of comfort in that last seven or eight minutes. We got rewarded for doing the right things, and we need to continue to play that way."
Five Things
1. Bastian Scored His First of the Season
It may have taken 15 games, but Bastian's first 2023-24 campaign goal could not have come at a better time.
Less than one minute after Rust scored his second of the game, Haula, Bastian, and Tomas Nosek swarmed the opposing net. It was the 6-foot-4 Kitchener, Ontario native, who found the puck on his stick and quickly got it past Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry.
"As the season goes on and you still have yet to find the back of the net, it gets tough," Bastian said to MSG host Erika Wachter. "Personally, I haven't been particularly happy with my own play, so hopefully being able to help out the team today can help myself and my confidence."
2. Each Line Contributed
The Devils received offensive contributions from all four forward lines, with eight of their 11 forwards on the scoresheet. In the absence of arguably their three best players, others stepped up.
"We've talked about playing this way, and now we've finally showed it," Lazar said. "At times, it wasn't pretty, but it was simple. We moved the puck; we played fast. I think if we do that consistently, we're going to be a hard team to beat. Guys in the right spots, and taking it upon ourselves to win our battles and to compete.
3. Holtz's Ice Time
Over the past three seasons, Holtz has averaged around 11 minutes of ice time. On Tuesday night, he saw the third-highest ice time among forwards behind Dawson Mercer and Jesper Bratt.
The 21-year-old played a career-high 18:39 versus the Penguins. He scored his team's fourth goal and finished the game with three shots on Jarry.
4. Lazar Reaches Career Milestone
Lazar finished the night with a season-high two points (one goal, one assist) and earned his 100th career point. He has collected 41 goals and 59 assists since he entered the league during the 2014-15 season as a member of the Ottawa Senators.
5. 100 Straight Games Without Being Shut Out
New Jersey has played 100 consecutive regular-season games without being shut out. Lazar's goal 13:34 into the opening frame secured their streak, the third-longest stretch in franchise history.