Devils Unsettled By Bruins; Winning Streak Ends At Three

The New Jersey Devils looked comfortable with a 2-0 lead early in the second period against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.

Too comfortable.

From there, the Devils surrendered four unanswered goals in the period, as well as one more in the third, to see their three-game winning streak come to an end at TD Garden by a final of 5-2.

The ease New Jersey began with was unsettled once Jake DeBrusk scored off a turnover, making it a 2-1 game with his fifth goal of the season.

David Pastrnak tied things up for Boston as he tapped in a loose puck on the doorstep at the 12:51 mark of the second. He put the Bruins in front on the power play a little over three minutes later while Kevin Bahl served a holding penalty.

Kevin Shattenkirk doubled Boston’s lead by snapping a quick wrist shot from the right circle past Devils goalie Vitek Vanecek for the 100th goal of his NHL career.

In total, Vanecek stopped 27 of 32 shots in the game.

Shattenkirk found his second goal of the night and fourth of the season late in the third.

Boston’s four goals in the second period came on just 11 shots, breaking through after being held off the board in the game’s opening 20 minutes despite having a 6-1 advantage in high-danger chances and a 13-9 one in shots in the first period.

New Jersey entered the second ahead 1-0 as Nico Hischier played a game of tic-tac-toe with Tyler Toffoli and Jack Hughes on the power play at 6:03 of the first. Hischier’s goal from the low slot was his eighth of the season and snapped a six-game goal-less streak.

As Hischier ended his scoring drought, Luke Hughes kept his alive with his third goal in as many games.

Off a rather innocent-looking chance while the Devils went for a line change early in the second, the rookie defenseman put a puck on net from above the faceoff circles that made its way through four defenders and past Linus Ullmark.

But after the tally by Luke Hughes, the reigning Vezina trophy winner shut the door on the Devils and finished the night with 31 saves on 33 shots.

Saturday’s game was the second of a back-to-back for the Devils and also the 500th of Timo Meier’s career. However, he didn’t finish it.

The forward exited the game at the beginning of the third period and did not return. Devils head coach Lindy Ruff had no update on Meier’s status postgame.

The loss drops the Devils’ record to 19-14-2 in their final game in the game of 2023.

They’ll have three days off before beginning 2024 against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, Jan. 3.

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