New Jersey is sixth in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 25-20-3.
The New Jersey Devils earned a 5-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche Tuesday night at Prudential Center.
For the 35th time this season, New Jersey surrendered the game's opening goal. Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen scored his 28th goal of the season a mere 1:23 into the game. Jonathan Drouin collected the lone assist. It was the Avalanche's second shot of the game.
Only 42 seconds later, Chris Tierney celebrated his first goal in a Devils uniform. His tip-in beat Colorado netminder Justus Annunen. Defensemen Simon Nemec and Kevin Bahl tallied the assists.
After 20 minutes, the Devils held a 13-12 shot advantage, but the score was deadlocked at 1-1.
Colorado celebrated their second goal of the game 38 seconds into the second period as Josh Manson shot the puck past Devils netminder Vitek Vanecek. New Jersey challenged for goaltender interference by Logan O'Connor and won.
Colorado head coach Jared Bednar called it "a big momentum swing."
A few minutes later, Jesper Bratt gave his team their first lead of the night 3:49 into the middle frame off a beautiful give-and-go on a 2-on-1 with Nico Hischier. Ondrej Palat was credited with the secondary assist.
Dawson Mercer extended the Devils lead three minutes later when he fought to poke in a loose puck. Erik Haula and Timo Meier earned the helpers.
The Devils held a 3-1 lead after two periods, limiting the Avalanche to nine shots.
Colorado scored two goals within one minute to tie the game at 3-3.
Defensemen Cale Makar and Samuel Girard each found the back of the net. Drouin picked up his second assist of the night on Makar's 13th of the season.
With a tied score and 2:17 left to play, Devils' defenseman John Marino shot the puck past Annunen and scored the game-winning goal. It was his fourth goal of the season. Bratt and Hischier picked up their second points of the nights earning the assists.
Erik Haula scored an empty net goal in the waning seconds to give his team the 5-3 victory.
Vanecek made 35 saves on 38 shots.
UP NEXT: The Devils will host Yegor Sharangovich and the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Feb. 8.
LINES:
Ondrej Palat - Nico Hischier - Jesper Bratt
Timo Meier - Erik Haula - Dawson Mercer
Max Willman - Curtis Lazar - Nathan Bastian
Chris Tienrey - Tomas Nosek - Alexander Holtz
Kevin Bahl - Simon Nemec
Luke Hughes - John Marino
Santeri Hatakka - Colin Miller
Vitek Vanecek
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