New Jersey Devils rookie Seamus Casey scored a goal and collected an assist in his team's Monday afternoon victory.
New Jersey Devils rookie Seamus Casey scored a goal and collected an assist in his team's Monday afternoon victory.
On Monday afternoon, the New Jersey Devils played their best game of the season against the Utah Hockey Club. The club handed the visiting team a 3-0 loss, the first loss in Utah's history.
Veteran goaltender Jake Allen earned the shutout, turning away all 20 shots faced. Seamus Casey, Stefan Noesen, and Nico Hischier all found the back of the net.
"It's hard for me to find a guy I didn't like today, head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "Good team win. That's why you give up 20 shots and no goals. Top to bottom of the lineup, everyone was good today."
It was the rookie defenseman who got the scoring started for New Jersey.
As Dougie Hamilton exited the penalty box after serving a roughing penalty, Casey received the puck from Nico Hischier. He skated inside the slot and, with his lethal wrist shot, blasted the puck toward opposing netminder Karel Vejmelka.
The red light went off as the defenseman gave his team a 1-0 lead over Utah.
It was the 20-year-old's third goal on his fourth shot and second power-play goal in five games. In addition to his offensive game, Casey has been strong defensively as well.
"As much as the goals are great if his game defensively is a mess and it's a fire drill when he's on the ice, he's not going to be able to stay here," Keefe said of Casey. "But his defensive game, he's playing with intelligence. For an undersized defenseman, he plays his body so well. He doesn't complicate things for himself or his teammates."
Noesen extended New Jersey's lead to 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining in the middle frame. Casey earned the lone assist for the first multi-point game of his career.
The Devils entered the second intermission with a 2-0 lead over the visiting Hockey Club. After 40 minutes of play, New Jersey limited their opponent to 11 shots despite only blocking six shots.
In the third period, Keefe put Noesen on the first power play unit, replacing Timo Meier. This coaching move had an immediate impact, as Hischier found the back of the net. Jack Hughes earned the primary assist, while Jesper Bratt earned the secondary, which extended his point streak to four games.
After five games, the Devils have a record of 4-1-0 with a five-point lead over the New York Rangers, who are second in the Metropolitan Division. New Jersey will face the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.
Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
EXCLUSIVE: Q&A With MSG Networks Host & Analyst Rachel Herzog
Hischier’s Manager Patrick Fischer: 'He’s Driven to Succeed, but Not Easily Satisfied'
Seamus Casey Scores First NHL Goal In Devils Global Series Finale