Devils bounce back from disappointing loss, top division-leading Hurricanes with 7-4 win
The Devils were frustrated about letting a game get away from them earlier in the week, dropping a game to the lowly Arizona Coyotes. Their first game back on the ice came Saturday night at Prudential Center against the Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes.
Despite a slow start, the Devils responded for their failures earlier this week, tying a season high with seven goals in a 7-4 win at home.
"We're pretty hard on ourselves as a group and it's tough to battle back," said Nate Bastian, who fueled the initial Devils comeback. "To come out of the first period even and then put the game away ourselves the rest of the night was really good to see."
The Hurricanes entered the night as one of the league's best teams, especially when playing with an early lead. Prior to Saturday night, Carolina was 17-1-2 when scoring the game's first goal. The Hurricanes scored the first two goals in Newark, but still suffered their second loss in regulation when striking first.
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"If we get down, we have always found ways to get back," said head coach Lindy Ruff. "They got mad at each other on a few plays, then they got determined. We fought back and I thought after the game was 2-0, we were the better team."
Carolina jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead within the opening six minutes of the game on goals by Andrei Svechnikov and Ian Cole. The Devils, however, climbed back into the game to finish the period with a tie game. A pair of Bastian goals that were a minute and 40 seconds apart tied the game at two at the first intermission.
"We showed some character after we got those two goals early and found a way," said Nico Hischier. "We were a little pissed off at the beginning, but found a way to bounce back."
The lead would be traded back and forth in the second period as Josh Leivo's first goal of the year put the Hurricanes back ahead. Michael McLeod answered for New Jersey to tie the game at three only for the Devils to take their first lead less than three minutes later.
Johnsson's first goal in 18 games gave the Devils a 4-3 second period lead. Brady Skjei would tie things once again with his sixth goal of the season, but Jesper Bratt's team-leading 11th goal of the year gave the Devils a 5-4 lead after two periods.
"I've been trying to not be too frustrated because I feel like I have been creating a lot of chances with shooting or with passes," said Johnsson. "So, I'm just trying to stick with it. Earlier in my career, there are going to be those stretches sometimes. I feel like I'm not too frustrated, but it's always nice to get a goal."
In the third period, the Devils went on a power play and scored against one of the league's top penalty killing unit. A Jack Hughes goal, his 10th of the season, padded the Devils lead, only for it to expand further on Pavel Zacha's goal 64 seconds later.
Jon Gillies started in goal for the Devils for the third time this season and had some rough sledding with 28 saves on the night. Gillies earned his first win in net as a member of the Devils on Saturday, his 28th birthday.
"Part of the reason he played tonight was that I thought his puck play would help us against their forecheck," said Ruff. "I thought his puck play, helping us break out, playing the puck behind the net was exceptional."
Hamilton week-to-week recovering from broken jaw
Saturday's matchup with the Hurricanes was circled before the season as the first time Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton would have faced his former team. However, Hamilton is not back on the ice following a broken jaw suffered after being hit with a puck on Jan. 2 against the Washington Capitals. Saturday provided a rare update to Hamilton's recovery as the former All-Star is 16 days removed from surgery on his jaw.
Ruff indicated that Hamilton has begun skating with the team's skills coach and that the team now views his status as week-to-week.
"We're just going to evaluate him week to week right now, but it's great to see he's progressing," said Ruff. "But it's still been a short period for him."
Though it was a different injury, the Devils dealt with a puck striking Nico Hischier's face during a game last season. Hischier suffered a sinus injury that required surgery and the Devils captain was able to return to the ice after 45 days.
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Twitter: @robertaitkenjr
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Devils bounce back with 7-4 win over Hurricanes
