Devils Fall 3-1 To Golden Knights

Published: Thursday, February 6, 2025

by Patrick Corsello

NEWARK, N.J. — The Devils (30-20-6) fell to the Vegas Golden Knights (32-17-6) Thursday night 3-1 on home ice.

As the first period started, the Golden Knights controlled the play. Coming out with heavy offensive pressure, their top lines looked cool, calm, and collected in the first minutes. The play was steady for both teams through the first ten minutes.

While Vegas generated more pressure, the Devils didn’t look too bad themselves. The first half of the period was heavily defensive hockey until Jack Hughes took a double minor for high sticking. This gave Vegas a chance to get their offense going on the power play.

Though Vegas put on a flurry of shots through the last minute of the power play, they were unable to connect, and Hughes escaped the box with this game still tied with no score.

The period would end scoreless as both teams entered the locker room still looking to open the scoring.

It would end up being the Golden Knights to open the scoring, as Nicolas Roy collected his own rebound and put the puck through the legs of Allen. With this only being about four minutes into the second period, the Devils still had a lot of time to get back into this game.

But it was all VGK to this point, as with 12:33 remaining in the second, Simon Nemec would go to the box for holding, and Vegas would go back on the power play. Being 0-for-2 on the power play so far, Vegas looked to change that and extend their lead.

Yet the Devils would once again kill the penalty, making Vegas 0-for-3 on the PP in this game. Although Vegas was having power play troubles, they still managed to control the play five on five. Just before the eight-minute mark of the period, Shea Theodore ripped one from far out, putting it past Allen to make it 2-0 VGK.

It was unraveling for the Devils as they would take another penalty, this time Nathan Bastian for tripping. Though unsuccessful to this point, Vegas would go back on the power play for the fourth time in this game.

The Devils would kill yet another penalty, but still trailed 2-0 heading into the third period.

Leading big in the shot department, Vegas kept up the pressure in the last frame, including a goal from Jack Eichel to extend the lead to 3-0.

Ondrej Palat would score on the power play, getting the Devils on the board late in the period.

But that wouldn’t be enough, as Vegas would ultimately win this game after an incredible performance offensively.

The Devils next game will come against the Montreal Canadiens when the team travels up north to play Saturday afternoon at the Bell Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

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

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