PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Devils score early and often in 6-1 win over Penguins.
Just 1:16 into the hockey game on the Devils rush, a pass that was deflected in front of the net trickled through to the other side of the net where Jesper Bratt buried his 15th goal of the season making it 1-0 Devils just 1:16 into the game.
Four and a half minutes later Bratt would score his second goal of the night on an Evan Rodrigues turnover in the Penguins zone. Bratt’s wrist shot made it 2-0 Devils not even 6 minutes into the game. A minute later the Penguins turned the puck over in their zone again. P.K. Subban stole Marcus Petterson’s clear attempt at the blue line and Yegor Sharangovich broke towards the net for a wide open shot that beat Tristian Jarry’s glove making it 3-0 Devils.
Pittsburgh had multiple chances in the period to score, Bryan Rust missed a shot off the post, multiple one-timers were denied by Nico Daws. The first period couldn’t have ended soon enough for the Pens.
In the second period the Penguins dominated shots on net the first 9 minutes of the period getting 11 shots on goal but couldn’t put the puck on the net.
The 1st shot of the period from New Jersey came at 10:33 and it was a goal. Petterson’s pass attempt was stolen by Jack Hughes behind the net and he found a cutting Dawson Mercer right in front of the net for the goal to make it 4-0 New Jersey.
After a New Jersey penalty Evgeni Malkin gets the Penguins on the board with a give and go with Sidney Crosby. Malkin beat Daws glove on a top shelf wrist shot to make it 4-1 Devils. New Jersey responded after a Brock McGinn penalty for high sticking, Damon Severson knocked Tristan Jarry out of the hockey game with 6:23 in the second period. Casey DeSmith took over in net.
After two penalties on the penguins and one on New Jersey in the third period, Nico Hischier scored a 4 on 3 power play goal to make it 6-1 Devils.
"I don't think it's a let's look by this one. I think we got to learn through each experience. The performance we had tonight simply wasn't good enough," said Mike Sullivan.
Jarry Pulled In 2nd Period
Tristan Jarry's night ended early after he gave up 5 goals on 19 shots. Sullivan said he felt the team just needed a switch.
"It wasn't necessarily because I thought he was playing poorly. The first few goals that they scored, if Tristan did make the save they would have been great saves."
Daws Dazzles
21-year-old Nico Daws got the start for the Devils and was able to slam the door on multiple chances for the Penguins to score goals. He made 37 saves on 38 shots allowing just one goal.
Up Next
Pens are back home Saturday at 3:00 against the New York Rangers. The Rangers are coming off a 4-1 win over the Capitals.