Jack Hughes Lifts Resilient Devils Over Islanders in 4-3 Overtime Win

LONG ISLAND — The New Jersey Devils headed into UBS Arena to take on the New York Islanders with an opportunity to win three games in a row for the first time this season. For a moment, it looked like they might not complete the task. However, on the back of their superstar, the Devils overcame the Islanders in overtime in a 4-3 victory to claim their third victory in as many games.

Devils Recap

Despite the Devils controlling the pace of play in the opening frame, their lone mistake cost them. Alone in the slot, Simon Holmstrom received a pass from Kyle MacLean and scored to give the Isles a 1-0 lead.

Trailing in the second period, the Devils started the middle frame just as strong as they left off. On the power play, Jack Hughes deposited his second goal in as many games to knot the game at one goal each.

However, on the back of some fantastic goaltending by Sorokin, the Islanders separated themselves from the Devils midway through the third period on goals by Dennis Cholowski and Brock Nelson. Yet, the Devils chipped away and tied the game with under four and a half minutes to play on a goal by Dawson Mercer and, with Jacob Markstrom on the Devils bench, a goal by Stefan Noesen.

It was a back and forth affair in overtime, but it was Hughes who called game scoring his second goal of the night, netting the game winner.

Jacob Markstrom made 19 saves on 22 shots, securing his seventh win of the season.

Takeaways

Out of Position

If it weren’t for the play of Ilya Sorokin, the Devils would have escaped the first with a lead. Instead, the left down a goal, whereas they should have at the very least been tied at zeros.

Unfortunately, a costly mistake by Dougie Hamilton presented opportunity for Holmstrom. Hamilton played the puck below the Devils’ goal line and took a hit by Matt Martin in the process. Rather than scurrying back to the slot to cover his zone, Holmstrom slipped into the slot while Brendan Dillon battled for the puck on the far wall.

As a result of a bit of puck watching, Holmstrom received a pass, faked Markstrom out of his pads, and gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead.

Hamilton has never been a defensive stalwart, but defensive mishaps such as those can’t happen for the $9 million defenseman.

Resilient

Certainly, the Devils are a resilient bunch.

With the game knotted at one and just eight minutes left to play, the Islanders found themselves ahead by two goals. Last season, that would have deflated the Devils, and they would have sunk into the multi-goal lead by their opponent. Instead, the Devils displayed resiliency, chipping away on goals by Mercer and Noesen to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Whereas Sheldon Keefe wasn’t thrilled with the Devils allowing the two quick goals, he was impressed with how they pulled themselves together.

“The players took charge, and they stuck with it,” Keefe explained. “Huge goal by Mercer, and a great play by Paul Cotter to drive us down there and get the puck inside. So that’s what we didn’t do much of in that third up until that point. It gave us life, and then six on five came through.”

Jack Is Back

Jack Hughes is officially back.

The Devils’ superstar forward scored two goals—including the game winning goal in overtime—and added an assist, the reverse of his final stat line on Thursday, bringing his point total to six over the last two games.

And although the shine on Jack’s game reflects off the scoresheet, Keefe explained it’s the little things he’s doing that lead to his big success.

“He just seems like he’s in a groove. He’s just confident making plays with the puck,” Keefe said “But to me, the biggest thing that I’ve seen is just a number of puck battles that he’s winning. He’s getting the puck back for us a great deal. Defensively, he’s been very solid. You know, it’s just he’s in a groove, he’s an elite player, and he’s in a group that when those guys are feeling like that, they’re hard to contend with.”

READ MORE: Devils Prioritizing Team Toughness, ‘We Might Not Start It, But We’ll Finish It’ (+)

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