Credit: Adam Hunger/Getty Images
NJ Devils Dominate Past Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-0
Published: Saturday, December 21, 2024
by Patrick Corsello
NEWARK, N.J. - The New Jersey Devils (22-11-3) shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins (15-15-5) 3-0 on Saturday night, getting back in the win column after falling 4-2 to the Blue Jackets in Columbus on Thursday.
It was pretty even at the start, with both sides getting high-danger chances early but to no avail. The Devils seemed to take a different approach to this game compared to their previous one against Columbus. They were more passive to start the period, attempting to not to give up as many chances, after previously being down 3-0 to the Jackets in that match’s first period.
Despite the slow pace of play in the first, the crowd was still involved in the action (or lack thereof). It was actually a very lackluster period for both teams. After the first few minutes, both teams settled into a lull in play.
There was no real control in the offensive zone and not many pucks were put on net. At one point the crowd was chanting to “hit somebody” just to see a little bit of action.
Just before the six-minute mark, the crowd saw the first penalty of the game. It was against the Devils, as Dougie Hamilton went to the box for holding. Not exactly the type of action that NJD was hoping for.
The “kill” chants rang from the crowd as the NJD faithful pleaded for the Devils to come through on the PK. Luckily for the home team, they were able to escape this jam, and killed off the penalty.
The Devils would get their own powerplay with just under two minutes to play in the period, as Erik Karlsson entered the box for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The Devils were unable to capitalize in the period but would start the second period at a five on four advantage.
The period would end 0-0, with just nine shots between the two teams; five for Pittsburgh and four for New Jersey.
As the second period got underway, the Devils looked to get off to a hot start. They had an early two on one chance that ultimately went wide of Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry.
On the other side of the ice, Jacob Markstrom made a spectacular save on Sidney Crosby. He lunged across the ice with his entire body, lying down entirely, just getting the end of his glove on the puck to keep it out of a wide-open net.
Though this wasn’t the only time Markstrom made a great save in the period. With 12:30 remaining in the period, Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin took a one timer from the right circle, and Markstrom made a sprawling glove save.
Markstrom looked terrific in net, but NJD took an interference penalty at 11:37 as Paul Cotter went to the box. Once again, the Devils were able to kill off a penalty and the game stayed tied 0-0.
The Devils finally got on the board late in the period when Nico Hischier connected with Stefan Noesen for his 15th of the season. With this goal, Noesen surpassed his previous career high. This would do it for the period, as NJD would take a 1-0 lead into the third.
In the third period, Hischier scored with 12 minutes remaining to give the Devils a 2-0 lead. Timo Meier got a late goal with about a minute and a half left of the game on a snap shot, with assists from Jesper Bratt and Hischier. The Devils were able to hold off the Penguins in the final frame, and Markstrom recorded his second shutout of the season.
The Devils next game will be against the New York Rangers, this time back home at
The Rock. New York is a team looking to turn their season around after a bad stretch
of games over the last two months.
The Hudson River Rivalry will take place on Monday at 1 p.m. from the Prudential Center.
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