Tag: New Jersey Devils

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NFL (American Football)

The Devils are thriving after offseason changes and will face the struggling Blue Jackets

New Jersey Devils players celebrates after scoring

The New Jersey Devils are doing well in the 2024-25 season, looking strong in their bounce-back year.

They’ve won three games in a row and six of their last nine, putting them at the top of the Metropolitan Division, just one point ahead of the Washington Capitals, and second in the NHL. They will try to keep up their good form when they play the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.

New Jersey, which had 112 points two seasons ago, is on track to get close to that number again this season with 45 points from 34 games.

After an 81-point finish last season, general manager Tom Fitzgerald hired coach Sheldon Keefe, brought in goalie Jacob Markstrom, and signed defensemen Brett Pesce (free agent) and Johnathan Kovacevic (trade).

This season, the Devils have improved their defense, allowing 2.56 goals per game compared to 3.43 last season.

“We had boxes to check in the summer. We did that,” Fitzgerald said Monday. “The ebbs and flows of a season and the ebbs and flows of production from certain players, it comes and goes.

We’d like to see more of it coming to take some pressure off some other guys. We’re just a one-day-at-a-time team. That’s it. We don’t get too far ahead of ourselves… Just one day at a time.”

Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)

The Devils recently beat the St. Louis Blues 4-1 on the road, building a 3-0 lead. This win followed a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, where they scored four goals in the third period.

“It looked the same way as we’ve been playing in the last home stretch here, which is good defensive hockey, good penalty kill, good power play coming up clutch for us again,” Markstrom said after the St. Louis game. “We don’t get many chances but for us to put up three and one empty-netter, is big for us. We capitalized on our chances.”

The Blue Jackets, however, are struggling and will be trying to turn things around after losing five straight and eight of their last nine games (1-6-2). The latest loss was 5-3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, where they fought back from a 4-0 deficit but couldn’t complete the comeback.

In a 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, Columbus fell behind 2-0 in the first period.

“Down 4-0 is kind of embarrassing, especially with what happened in Carolina,” forward Adam Fantilli said. “We wanted to come in and have a great game. Obviously, that wasn’t it from the start. We tried to win with what we had left in the third. It wasn’t enough.”

Slow starts have been a big problem for the Blue Jackets in their current 0-3-2 slide. They’ve allowed the first goal in four of those games, and in three of them, they fell behind by multiple goals. They’ve trailed first 15 times in 32 games, winning just three of those games.

“We have a choice like … just give or step up, so we stepped up, but that’s not enough,” forward Mikael Pyyhtia said. “We have to play (the) full 60 minutes if we want to win the hockey games.”

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New Jersey Devils continued their strong play, defeating the St. Louis Blues 3-0

New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues Tuesday

Jacob Markstrom stopped 19 shots to help the New Jersey Devils secure a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.

Ondrej Palat, Stefan Noesen, Brenden Dillon, and Jesper Bratt each scored for the Devils, who have won 5 of their last 7 games. Jack Hughes contributed two assists.

Jordan Kyrou scored for the Blues, and Jordan Binnington made 24 saves. This loss marked only their third regulation defeat in 11 games (6-3-2) since Jim Montgomery took over as head coach.

The Blues nearly scored first when Kyrou’s shot from the high slot hit Markstrom and bounced off the right post. Dylan Holloway also had a good chance in the first period, but Markstrom stopped his breakaway attempt.

New Jersey opened the scoring with 4:47 left in the first. Luke Hughes sent a pass that bounced off the boards to Palat, who fired a slapshot past Binnington from the left circle.

St. Louis Blues players celebrate in the 3rd period

The Devils extended their lead to 2-0 early in the second period with the first of two consecutive power-play goals. Jack Hughes took a tough-angle shot from the right side, and Noesen finally converted the rebound after three attempts.

New Jersey’s defense limited St. Louis to only 11 shots in the first two periods.

Dillon made it 3-0 just 3:38 into the third period with a shot from the left circle that found the net through traffic.

Kyrou scored for the Blues with 9:32 left, cutting the deficit to 3-1 while Binnington was pulled for an extra attacker. This goal extended Kyrou’s scoring streak to four games.

Bratt added an empty-net goal with 3:16 left to seal the win, making it 4-1.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Jack Hughes Shines with Three Points as Devils Top Kings 3-1, Snapping LA’s Win Streak

Jack Hughes Shines with Three Points as Devils Top Kings 3-1, Snapping LA’s Win Streak
Jack Hughes Shines with Three Points as Devils Top Kings 3-1, Snapping LA’s Win Streak

The New Jersey Devils secured a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night at Prudential Center, powered by a stellar three-point performance from Jack Hughes. Hughes scored the game-winning goal and contributed two assists, while Ondrej Palat and Brett Pesce added goals for the Devils. The team’s strong defensive play limited the Kings to just 12 shots on goal, marking a defensive performance similar to their recent matchup against Toronto. The win ended Los Angeles’ six-game winning streak, with the Kings’ lone goal coming from Jordan Spence.

The Kings struck first late in the second period when Spence capitalized on a counterattack after intercepting a Hughes pass. However, Hughes quickly responded less than two minutes later, setting up Palat’s goal with a shot toward the net that Palat redirected through the five-hole of Kings’ goalie David Rittich. Head coach Sheldon Keefe praised Hughes for taking control of the moment and answering back with a crucial play to tie the game. The equalizer came just before the period ended, helping the Devils carry momentum into the final frame.

Jack Hughes Shines with Three Points as Devils Top Kings 3-1, Snapping LA’s Win Streak
Jack Hughes Shines with Three Points as Devils Top Kings 3-1, Snapping LA’s Win Streak

In the third period, Hughes scored the go-ahead goal, his 12th of the season, with a pinpoint shot set up by a precise pass from Palat. Later, Brett Pesce sealed the victory with his first goal as a Devil, a shorthanded tally off a rebound from Hughes’ shot. The goal also marked Pesce’s 200th career point, a personal milestone that added to the game’s significance. Hughes’ contribution on the penalty kill showed the coaches’ growing trust in his defensive abilities, with Keefe emphasizing the importance of giving Hughes opportunities to develop in that role.

The Devils’ defensive dominance stood out again as they held the Kings to just one shot in the first period, replicating their success from the Toronto game earlier in the week. Brenden Dillon’s penalty on Alex Turcotte’s breakaway led to a penalty shot, but Turcotte missed high, preserving the Devils’ strong defensive effort. Hughes noted the team’s improvement in starting games with energy and putting opponents on their heels early, a key factor in their recent success.

The game also saw physical intensity, particularly involving Paul Cotter and Kevin Fiala, who clashed repeatedly throughout the contest. Additionally, Dawson Mercer left the game in the third period after being struck in the mouth by a shot, requiring several stitches. Though Mercer attempted to return, Keefe did not provide a clear update on his status postgame. The Devils’ ability to respond to adversity and maintain strong defensive play proved decisive in their hard-fought victory.

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Devils surge past struggling Blackhawks with four-goal third period

Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier all scored in about two minutes to help the New Jersey Devils finish a four-goal outburst in the third period, leading them to a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday afternoon in Newark, N.J.

Dawson Mercer started the comeback at 2:45 into the third period for the Devils, who won their last two games of a five-game homestand (3-1-1). Goalie Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves in the win.

Jason Dickinson scored the only goal for the Blackhawks in the second period. Chicago has now lost seven of their last eight games. They gave up three goals in just 2:19 in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders, and they have lost 12 games this season in which they scored first.

Chicago goalie Drew Commesso, who was making his second NHL appearance and first start, recorded 20 saves.

Dickinson’s unusual goal was the only score in the first two periods. His shot hit off Markstrom, hit the far post, then bounced off Luke Hughes’ face and rolled into the net with 6:29 left in the second.

Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils

Mercer, who was wearing a face guard after being hit in the face by a puck on Thursday, tied the game when he took a backhanded pass from Luke Hughes and fired a shot past Commesso’s stick.

Jack Hughes gave the Devils the lead with 9:32 remaining after Jesper Bratt made a great defensive play. Bratt checked Wyatt Kaiser, recovered the puck, and passed it to Brett Pesce. Pesce then passed it to Jack Hughes, who scored with a powerful slapshot that beat Commesso on the stick side.

Hischier stole a pass from Kevin Korchinski and led a three-on-two attack. Hischier scored with 7:44 left when he managed to push the puck through Commesso’s legs while being pushed from behind by TJ Brodie.

Meier added another goal just 18 seconds later, putting in the rebound of a shot from Mercer.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Blackhawks aim to change their luck in matchup against the Devils

Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

The Chicago Blackhawks had one of their most frustrating third periods of the season on Thursday night. However, they also played one of their best third periods of the season.

The struggling Blackhawks will try to build on the positive moments when they wrap up a three-game road trip by facing the New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J., on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams had Friday off after playing the previous night in the New York area. The Blackhawks mounted a strong comeback, but it wasn’t enough in a 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders in Elmont, N.Y., while the Devils won 3-1 over the Los Angeles Kings at home.

The Blackhawks experienced some familiar problems in the third period when the Islanders scored three goals in just 2:19 to increase their lead to 5-1. However, Chicago responded with a strong effort, outshooting New York 11-2 for the rest of the game and scoring three times. Tyler Bertuzzi scored two of those goals in the final 70 seconds to bring the Blackhawks within one goal.

The three goals scored and allowed in the third period matched a season high for the Blackhawks, who have been outscored 39-21 in the final period this season.

“I thought we did some good things,” said Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen. “The mental lapses that we had there in the second and third, that’s something we have to clean up.”

New Jersey Devils (NHL)

The Blackhawks have lost six of their last seven games, even though they scored first in all but one of them. This season, Chicago has lost 11 times when scoring first.

“We’re all aware of what we need to do here,” Sorensen said. “It’s just a matter of working through it.”

The Devils also worked through their issues on Thursday, finishing strong with three unanswered goals in the last 21:04. This victory ended a two-game losing streak for New Jersey and snapped the Kings’ six-game winning streak.

Despite a strong effort, the Devils lost 6-1 to the Colorado Avalanche and 6-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs, even though they outshot their opponents 64-41 in those games. They also outshot Toronto 39-17 in a 2-1 overtime loss on Tuesday.

“The more you do good things and good habits, things fall your way,” said Devils coach Sheldon Keefe. “It’s just one of those things. I think if you stay with it, eventually it’s going to fall. How our team’s defending and playing that way and not getting discouraged with not scoring — that to me, that’s winning hockey and I’ve been really impressed with our guys’ buy-in in that regard.”

New Jersey outshot the Kings 26-14 on Thursday, with top players Ondrej Palat and Jack Hughes combining for five points (two goals, three assists) to reward the team’s defensive effort.

“We funneled a lot of pucks to the net against the Leafs, too,” Hughes said. “Two good efforts for us and we’d like to finish off the homestand with another good win on Saturday.”

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Devils snap Kings’ three-year-long winning streak

New Jersey Devils (NHL)

Jack Hughes scored with 7:02 left in the third period to break a tie and help the New Jersey Devils win 3-1 against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday in Newark, N.J.

Hughes also had two assists, one on Ondrej Palat’s second goal in as many games and another on Brett Pesce’s short-handed goal in the third period.

Jacob Markstrom made 12 saves to lead the Devils to their 14th win in the last 21 games (14-6-1).

Defenseman Jordan Spence scored for the Kings, and David Rittich stopped 23 shots in net. The Kings’ bid for their first seven-game winning streak since October 2021 fell short.

Palat set up Hughes with a slick backhand pass from the right circle, allowing Hughes to score easily and put New Jersey up 2-1. This was Hughes’ 12th goal of the season and his fourth in the last seven games.

Pesce added a goal with 2:43 left in the third period to seal the win with a strong effort in front of the net.

Los Angeles Kings (NHL)

In a scoreless game late in the second period, Spence forced a turnover during a two-on-one rush and took a one-timer from the point after a pass from Alex Laferriere to give the Kings the lead at 16:41.

However, New Jersey responded quickly. Hughes skated across the slot, used a screen, and took a wrist shot that Palat deflected into the net at 18:56 of the second period.

Los Angeles had a penalty shot when Alex Turcotte was hooked by Brenden Dillon during a breakaway at 11:01 of the second period. However, Turcotte missed the shot as he tried to beat Markstrom on the blocker side.

During the second period, New Jersey’s Paul Cotter fell over Los Angeles’ Kevin Fiala and hit the ice. Cotter had trouble getting to the bench but returned to the game shortly after.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Kings aim to extend their winning streak as they face the Devils on the road

Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings are aiming to match their longest winning streak in over three years when they play the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night in Newark, N.J.

The Kings extended their winning streak to six games on Tuesday when they started a seven-game road trip with a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders. A win on Thursday would give Los Angeles its first seven-game streak since October 30-November 11, 2021.

Adrian Kempe scored the first goal for the second straight game on Tuesday, assisted by captain Anze Kopitar.

Kempe has scored nine of his team-high 14 goals in the last 11 games.

Kopitar, who is on a four-game point streak (one goal, four assists), leads the team in assists (24) and points (32).

“We’ve played together enough to where he knows what I’m going to do and I’ve got a pretty good idea with where he’s going to be and how he’s going to react in certain situations,” Kopitar said about Kempe. “So, yeah, I mean, the chemistry has been there and, hopefully, we can keep it going.”

The addition of Trevor Moore has not affected the line’s performance. In fact, Moore has three goals and two assists in his last four games.

“The last few games, (our line) has been going pretty good,” Kopitar said. “It always takes a few games to get adjusted, with Trevor coming in on the line and Adrian (Kempe) and me making sure we know where he’s going to be. Right now, it seems like the plays are clicking.”

New Jersey Devils players celebrate after scoring

The fast start was a pleasant surprise for Kings head coach Jim Hiller, who wasn’t sure how his team would perform at the beginning of the long road trip.

“You know, you’re not sure how you’re going to come out. We flew all the way out here, all that kind of stuff, and (the first) was probably one of our best periods of the year,” Hiller said.

New Jersey had won 13 of 18 games before losing two straight home games this week.

The Devils were shut out for the fifth time this season in a 4-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. They then dropped a 2-1 overtime game to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

Jesper Bratt increased his team-leading totals in assists (25) and points (38) after assisting Ondrej Palat’s goal in the first period. Bratt has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in his last six games.

New Jersey dominated in shots, leading 39-17, but the loss was still disappointing.

“It’s a great game by our guys and they deserved a lot more than one point,” goaltender Jacob Markstrom said. “I thought we lost one point (on Tuesday). You don’t build off losses, you build off wins, so that’s a sour one.”

The Devils will finish their five-game homestand on Saturday afternoon against the Chicago Blackhawks.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Auston Matthews scores in overtime to lead the Leafs past the Devils

Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils

Auston Matthews scored 2:51 into overtime to help the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Tuesday night in Newark, N.J.

Matthews pushed past Devils defenseman Brett Pesce on a partial breakaway and slid the puck past Jacob Markstrom to win the game. This goal was Matthews’ ninth of the season and his fourth in the last five games.

Pontus Holmberg of Toronto scored a short-handed goal in the third period, and New Jersey native Anthony Stolarz made 38 saves to help the Maple Leafs win.

Despite having only 16 shots compared to New Jersey’s 39, Toronto won its ninth straight road game against the Devils.

Ondrej Palat scored for the Devils in the second period, and Markstrom made 14 saves for New Jersey.

The Devils had a scare late in the second period when star player Jack Hughes was hit hard by Toronto’s Max Pacioretty. However, Hughes stayed in the game.

Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)

New Jersey dominated the first period with a 16-1 advantage in shots but could not score. In the second period, they broke through at 7:16 when Jesper Bratt picked up a loose puck after a poke check by defenseman Morgan Rielly. Bratt passed to Palat, who scored from the slot for his fourth goal of the season and first since Nov. 12.

New Jersey kept the lead until 10:42 of the third period, when Connor Dewar cleared the puck from the defensive zone. Holmberg followed the play and scored his second goal of the season, tying the game.

Toronto’s Max Domi returned from an eight-game absence due to a lower-body injury and had two shots on goal.

New Jersey’s Nathan Bastian also made his return after missing 16 games due to a broken jaw and had three shots on goal.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

After a setback, Maple Leafs are ready to face the Devils on the road

Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)

The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to avoid losing three straight games when they face their former head coach Sheldon Keefe and the New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J., on Tuesday.

The Maple Leafs, who lost three games in a row (0-2-1) from Oct. 22-26, lost 3-1 to the Washington Capitals on Friday and 5-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins the next day.

Mitch Marner scored and assisted on a goal on Saturday, raising his team-leading total for assists (28) and points (38). Team captain Auston Matthews also had a strong game, recording two assists against the Penguins.

Max Pacioretty, who was returning to the lineup after missing nearly a month due to a lower-body injury, struggled with penalties. He was called for two minor roughing penalties in the second period.

“I got to be probably smarter there. But, you know, the right intent is there,” Pacioretty said, per The Hockey News. “I just got to be a bit more disciplined.”

Pittsburgh took advantage of two power-play goals, which hurt the Maple Leafs despite their even-strength success. Toronto head coach Craig Berube shared his thoughts on Pacioretty’s return.

“I thought Max did a good job (Saturday) with them guys,” Berube said. “I thought he kind of maybe died off later on in the game. He hasn’t played in a while.”

William Nylander scored his team-leading 17th goal of the season on Saturday.

New Jersey Devils players celebrate after scoring

Pacioretty had scored one of Toronto’s three first-period goals in a 4-2 win over New Jersey on Oct. 10.

Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier scored for the Devils in that game, and both came close to scoring again in Sunday’s 4-0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Bratt had an apparent goal called off due to a high stick, and Meier’s goal was disallowed after the play was ruled over before the puck crossed the goal line.

New Jersey couldn’t break through former goaltender Scott Wedgewood on Sunday, marking their fifth shutout loss of the season.

“We didn’t skate (on Sunday). We didn’t win enough puck battles,” Keefe said. “They do a good job. They’re up tight on you, the gap is tight. We didn’t play through that well enough.”

Captain Nico Hischier had a stronger opinion on the team’s performance.

“The energy wasn’t there,” Hischier said, per The Hockey News. “It’s an individual thing. You have to find a way to bring life back to your game.

“When teams take our rush away, we have to find other ways to score. When we don’t have an answer, it’s not a good thing.”

Before the loss to the Avalanche, the Devils had won six of their previous eight games.

The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, had won seven of their last eight before losing their last two.

Bratt leads the Devils with 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists), while Jack Hughes has 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists). Nico Hischier leads the team with 15 goals.

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Scott Wedgewood and the Colorado Avalanche blanked the New Jersey Devils in a 4-0 victory

Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils

Scott Wedgewood stopped 25 shots, and the Colorado Avalanche won 4-0 against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night.

Ross Colton and Logan O’Connor scored in the first period for Colorado, who are now 3-1 on their five-game road trip. Casey Mittelstadt and Calvin de Haan each recorded two assists in the game.

Wedgewood, who was drafted by the Devils and spent part of three seasons with the team, improved his record to 4-0 against New Jersey. This was his first shutout of the season and the seventh of his career.

Jake Allen made 19 saves for the Devils, who were shut out for the fifth time this season. Despite winning their last two games, the Devils dropped to 1-1 on their five-game homestand.

Neither team scored on the power play, with Colorado going 0-for-2 and New Jersey 0-for-3.

Colton put Colorado ahead 1-0 at 4:07 of the first period. Mittelstadt passed the puck behind the net to Valeri Nichushkin, who then set up Colton for a one-timer into the net.

New Jersey Devils players celebrate after scoring

O’Connor made it 2-0 at 14:52 with a redirect from a pass by de Haan.

In the second period, Lehkonen extended the lead to 3-0 at 14:36. Mittelstadt took advantage of a New Jersey turnover and passed the puck to Lehkonen, who scored on a breakaway.

The Devils were limited to just two shots on goal in the second period.

New Jersey pulled Allen from the net with over five minutes left, but Wedgewood made several key saves in the final minutes.

Parker Kelly secured the win with an empty-net goal, assisted by Mikko Rantanen, with 3:55 left to make it 4-0.

Rantanen now has 37 points this season, with 15 goals and 22 assists.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

Timo Meier Faces NHL Hearing for Dangerous Cross-Checking

Timo Meier (Photo: Getty Images)

New Jersey Devils winger Timo Meier was suspended for one game by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old forward received the suspension for cross-checking Nashville Predators forward Zachary L’Heureux during a game on Monday. Meier was called in for a hearing on Tuesday regarding the incident.

As a result of the suspension, Meier will forfeit $45,833.33 in salary, which is based on his average annual salary as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement. The forfeited amount will be donated to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident took place during a physical game, where Meier was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct for cross-checking L’Heureux in the face.

Timo Meier (Photo: Jess Starr)

The altercation occurred with just under eight minutes remaining in the third period of New Jersey’s 5-2 victory at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

L’Heureux had previously delivered a hit to Meier’s back, which led the Swiss forward to respond with two cross-checks. The second check made contact with L’Heureux’s head, causing him to bleed.

Prior to his ejection, Meier had contributed an assist and registered five shots on goal in 13 minutes and 37 seconds of ice time.

On the season, Meier has scored seven goals and totaled 14 points in 23 games. He had been averaging 17 minutes and 18 seconds of ice time per game for the Devils, who now hold a 15-7-2 record.

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NHL (National Hockey League)

The Colorado Avalanche are finding their rhythm as they prepare to face the New Jersey Devils on the road

Colorado Avalanche (NHL)

The New Jersey Devils will try to extend their winning streak to three games when they face the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night.

Colorado is currently on a five-game road trip and will play the second game of a back-to-back after a 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

Cole Makar ended an eight-game goal drought, Valeri Nichushkin also scored, and Alexandar Georgiev made 29 saves to help the Avalanche, who had lost three of their last four games.

“He was outstanding,” said Avalanche coach Jared Bednar about Georgiev. “Especially when we needed him. (He made) key saves to keep it 1-0, key saves to keep it 2-1, and then the flurry at the end.”

Nichushkin opened the scoring in the first period with his third goal in two games and sixth of the season since his return on Nov. 15.

“He’s been huge for us,” said Makar. “(He) eats a lot of minutes and (is) starting to play really well. (He’s) starting to drive his feet, and when he’s driving his feet, really nobody in the league can stop him, so (it’s) fun to watch.”

Ross Colton, who missed 17 games with a broken foot, returned and played 13 minutes and 16 seconds, with three shots on goal and a plus-1 rating.

Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils

The Avalanche are expected to start goalie Scott Wedgewood on Sunday. Wedgewood, who previously played for the Devils, was traded to Colorado after serving as a backup goalie for the Nashville Predators in late November. He has faced the Devils five times and has won all three of his starts, with a .958 save percentage and 1.28 goals-against average.

The Devils began their five-game homestand with a 3-2 win against the Seattle Kraken on Friday. They will also face Toronto, Los Angeles, and Chicago during the stretch.

Jesper Bratt had a goal and an assist in his 500th NHL game, while Timo Meier and Luke Hughes also scored against Seattle. Jack Hughes added two assists, and Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves. The Devils have won six of their last eight games.

“We’re starting a (five-game) home stretch, and we wanted to come out and win this first game,” Meier said. “It wasn’t pretty, but we found a way. Maybe a puck bounced our way, but you got to earn those sometimes.”

Bratt has nine points in his past four games (three goals, six assists), including a four-point performance on Monday in a 5-1 win against the Rangers.

Jack Hughes had the primary assist on his brother Luke’s first goal of the season. Luke Hughes, a defenseman, was thrilled with his first career goal, saying, “I mean, 20 games is enough for me (to score my first goal), so good for me to break through and a big win for our team.”

Forward Tomas Tatar also made his return to the Devils lineup after missing two games due to a lower-body injury, playing 11 minutes and 32 seconds.