Friday Night the New Jersey Devils took on the Seattle Kraken in a duel to hopefully keep the Cryptid Cup in Jersey and to take home the much-needed win and the 2 points that come along with it. The team did exactly this even with the hardships they faced throughout each period, and they successfully ended the game with a score of 3-2 Devils to put a good start to New Jersey’s 5 games at home.
Goaltender Jacob Markstrom is one to thank for keeping New Jersey in the game tonight as he made 36 out of 38 saves. Alongside Markstrom, Timo Meier was also someone to take note of as he helped the Devils secure the win by scoring early in the third period to give them the lead up on the board.
Coming out for the first period the Devils would immediately start to play with high energy as they’d dominate in Seattle’s zone, but a defensive breakdown on New Jersey’s end put them in a compromising position. Andre Burakovsky took advantage of the Devils’ mistake and was the first to light the lamp and get the Kraken on the board. His goal was assisted by Vince Dunn.
New Jersey bounced right back though as Luke Hughes sniped one past Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer to tie the game late in regulation. The goal was assisted by the infamous “PBJ” duo, Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. This was also Bratt’s first point during his 500th career game. Regulation would end with a tied game.
New Jersey fought to the end through this period. Even with the defensive problems they faced, they continued to play accordingly which is how they were able to end the first period still tied.
The second period started slowly for the Devils as it had seemed they had lost their footing slightly. Sloppy defense led to more scoring chances for Seattle. Only 3 minutes in, New Jersey’s sloppiness would bite them as Jonathon Kovacevic received a penalty against the Kraken for high sticking. This would lead to Shane Wright finding the back of the net from Eeli Tolvanen and Jaden Schwartz to put the Kraken ahead once again at 2-1.
Showing tenacity, though, the Devils did not back down and they continued to play evenly with Seattle in hopes of tying the game. New Jersey continued to pepper high-quality shots against the net, with Brenden Dillon passing to Jack Hughes who found Jesper Bratt, and Bratt sent the puck into the net, once again tying the game for New Jersey at 2-2. More attempts to take the lead were made by both teams, but eventually the second period ended tied at 2-2.
Though it may not have seemed like it, Jesper Bratt’s goal made two huge accomplishments; Not only did it tie the game but it made Bratt the fifth player in Devils’ history to record multiple points during his 500th career game.
Stakes would be high as both teams would walk out onto the ice for the third period. 53 seconds in, Timo Meier performed an impressive backhand to gain the lead for the Devils 3-2. A surge of energy flew across the ice as Seattle tried to tie the game once again, while New Jersey impressively held them back. Even with all these attempts the game ended with a score of 3-2 Devils.
This game was full of accomplishments for Jesper Bratt, but also Timo Meier and Luke Hughes as Meiers goal was his 200th career goal in the NHL. Luke Hughes also scored his first goal of the season, which shows promise in his future.
New Jersey’s next game is on Sunday, Dec. 8 against the Colorado Avalanche.
