Impressive Devils Win; Nemec Plays Hero, Bratt Dominates Oilers

NEWARK—Without their superstar forward and their top defensive pair, the New Jersey Devils have adapted their game accordingly, and it’s paying off.

Coming into Thursday night, the last Devils hoped to win three straight games for the first time since Dec. 21st-27th.

They faced a tall order in doing so against the Edmonton Oilers, who are a pretty complete team, own two of the world’s best hockey players. However, the Devils overcame the obstacle, routing them to a loss in an impressive 3-2 victory, and have finally won three straight games, again.

The first period should  have been tilted in Edmonton’s direction. However, a tripping penalty on Darnell Nurse and interference infraction against Max Jones gave the Devils two power play opportunities to even the ice.

The Devils challenged Stuart Skinner with just two shots across the four minutes, however, couldn’t convert on two opportunities in the opening frame.

At the start of the second period, Tomas Tatar led a rush from mid-ice to the Oilers’ zone. Amid pushing the puck below the Edmonton goal line, Tatar took an interference penalty on Leon Draisaitl.

The Devils were able to kill off the power play, and with the momentum they built, sustained offensive pressure. As the Devils cycled the puck, Jesper Bratt put a shot toward the net where it deflected off Erik Haula, and Brett Pesce deposited the loose puck to give New Jersey a 1-0 lead.

Skinner later robbed Haula of a rush chance after he received a pass from Bratt in an odd-man situation. The Devils changed lines and as the Oilers made their way to the Devils’ zone, Draisaitl snuck the puck under the arm of Jake Allen to tie the game at one.

Edmonton started the third period shot out of a cannon. They were all over the Devils and in the offensive zone, forcing Allen to make a few big saves early to keep the game knotted at one.

Yet, Evan Bouchard gave the Oilers their first lead of the game at the 04:18 mark. His shot from the point through traffic went untouched a by Allen for a 2-1 Oilers lead.

The Devils didn’t give up the lead for very long, however.

New Jersey was able to take the momentum back and move the puck to the Oilers’ end of the ice. The Nico Hischier line worked the puck in the offensive zone. With the puck on Bratt’s stick, he moved the puck from the right circle to the slot, threw a shot on net through traffic, and tied the game at two.

Just over a minute later, the same line worked the puck to the Oilers blueline amid an offensive zone cycle. Simon Nemec wound up and fired a shot by Skinner to regain the Devils’ lead, 3-2.

The Oilers pressed on offense late in the game, pulling Skinner and attacking with six men. However, the Devils held on to claim two points, capping off an impressive win on home ice.

Allen was strong, making 31 saves on 33 shots.

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