Devils Surge in Second Period, Cruise Past Ducks 6-2

Published: Monday, October 28, 2024

by Patrick Corsello

NEWARK, N.J. – The New Jersey Devils (6-4-2) defeated the Anaheim Ducks (3-4-1) 6-2 on Sunday night, ending a four-game losing streak. The Ducks concluded their Hudson River road trip without a win after a 2-1 loss to the Rangers on Saturday.

It was crucial for the Devils to strike early, and they did just that—not by scoring a goal, but by Kurtis MacDermid dropping the gloves with Ducks enforcer Ross Johnston. The crowd rose to its feet as fists flew, energizing the Devils to start putting shots on net.

Unfortunately for New Jersey, it was the Ducks who struck first on the scoresheet. Brock McGinn fired a shot past Jacob Markström, giving Anaheim an early 1-0 lead. 

Dawson Mercer had an incredible chance midway through the first period, dangling in on a sprawling James Reimer, but Reimer made the save, keeping the Devils from breaking through. Even though the Devils outshot Anaheim 16-7, the Ducks were the ones taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The objective remained the same for the Devils heading into the second period: get shots on net and tie the game. Jesper Bratt had a quick chance to open the period, taking a shot that sent Reimer to the ice, but it didn’t result in a goal. 

Not long after, their relentless attack finally paid off. Jack Hughes got one past Reimer, tying the game less than two minutes into the second period. 

The Devils were just getting started, though. Just minutes later, Stefan Noesen scored a five-hole on Reimer, giving New Jersey a 2-1 lead with 15 minutes remaining in the second. 

The Devils continued to apply pressure and later scored on the power play after the Ducks took a bench minor, resulting in Noesen's second goal of the game. The Devils extended the lead to 3-1. 

Anaheim's nightmare wasn't over quite yet. Just a minute later, Paul Cotter scored, and the Devils headed into the third period with a commanding 4-1 lead.

New Jersey didn’t let up on offense in the third period. Less than two minutes in, the captain, Nico Hischier, ripped a shot over Reimer’s shoulder, increasing the lead to 5-1. 

Anaheim finally showed some signs of life when Ryan Strome found the back of the net for his third goal of the season, cutting the deficit to three. With just under seven minutes left in regulation, though, it was a lost cause for the Ducks.

Just for good measure, Erik Haula put another one in the net for the Devils in the game’s final minute, cementing a 6-2 victory. 

With this victory, the Devils (6-4-2) snapped their four-game losing streak and will look to continue their success as they begin a three-game road trip in Western Canada against the Vancouver Canucks (4-1-2) on Wednesday.

Patrick Corsello can be reached at patrick.corsello@student.shu.edu. 

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