The New Jersey Devils dominated the Nashville Predators 5-2 Monday night on home ice, for the first time in nine years, courtesy of Captain Nico Hischier’s first career hat trick.
Recap
After beginning the game going down 1-0 to Nashville, the Devils stepped on the gas and Erik Haula netted the first goal of the evening for the Devils. The first period ended 1-1, but little did Devils fans know the fun was just about to begin.
In the second period, the Devils captain came to play. A natural hat trick by Hischier in a 13-minute timespan put the Devils up 4-1. The rock erupted as Hischier scored his third goal of the night and hats fell from the sky as Devils fans have been waiting for the day they could celebrate their captains’ first ever hat trick. The momentum from this incredible moment for Hischier and the buzzing crowd pushed the Devils to end the period 4-1.
Nashville got one back a few minutes before the halfway mark of the third period, cutting the lead to 4-2. It seemed like all the Devils had to do was close out the game until Timo Meier got a 5-minute major and a game misconduct with eight minutes left in the game. The penalty kill was as perfect as it could get for the Devils, a textbook penalty kill, only allowing one shot. Nashville could not break through and the Devils killed their fifth penalty of the night. Justin Dowling, who was sitting in the box for Meier, exited the box, received the puck and shot it right into the empty net to seal the deal for the Devils with a score of 5-2.
Takeaways
Special teams continue to be a huge success for the Devils. The power play now sits second overall in the league at 31.5%, the Winnipeg Jets sit in first with an outstandings 33.8%. The penalty kill is sixth overall at 83.6%. Nashville’s penalty kill is first overall in the league at 90.5%, the Devils still managed to score once on their two opportunities.
Goaltending has been making major improvements after a few rough games to begin the season. Jacob Markstrom had yet another impressive night in net for the Devils, ending the night with a save percentage of .905%. He has won his last five out of six in net.
Jonathan Kovacevic continues to shine in his time with the Devils. He added two more assists while playing nearly 20 minutes. He earned himself the third star of the night.
Hischier, the heart and soul of the Devils team, has been playing to a new level this season. Along with his offensive firepower Devils fans haven’t seen before, Hischier has been playing with a new grit. His second goal of his hat trick came after being illegally taken down by Jeremy Lauzon, instead of reacting, he put one in the back of the net. His hat trick was the cherry on top. The Devils fans showed their unwavering support for their captain as he was awarded the first star of the night by chanting his name. The smile on Hischier’s face never faded.
“It’s a game I’ll probably never forget in my life,” Hischier stated after the game.
Nashville has come into Newark for the past nine years and taken a win with them each time. The Devils finally put an end to that streak in a demanding fashion and added two more points to their season, making their record 15-7-2.
The Devils will continue to lean on their captain as they have a handful of games in the next few weeks.
The Devils are 8-2-0 in their last ten and currently are riding a three-game win streak. The Devils will take on the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. ET.
