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Timo Meier and Curtis Lazar break goalless streaks to power Devils to big win in first road game against Utah Hockey Club.
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It was a rough go of it the last time out for the New Jersey Devils. A third period collapse against the Colorado Avalanche resulted in a 5-1 loss, and the Devils looked to get back to their winning ways in their first ever trip to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Hockey Club.
Nico Daws took the net off the back of his first career shutout as the Devils looked to fend off a surging Columbus Blue Jackets team and secure two points against a Utah team that was 6-3-1 over the last 10 games.
The Devils started much better against Utah than they did against Colorado. They were able to cycle through their lines and control the puck for much longer stretches.
It paid off at the 9:34 mark of the first period when Luke Hughes danced around Nick Bjugstad at the blue line before throwing a shot on net. Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka was able to make the first save, but Nico Hischier was there to put the puck in on the doorstep. The goal marked Hischier’s 400th career point.
Utah came storming back shortly after giving up the first goal, but Daws stood tall, trapping the puck just between his pads along the goal line.
The Devils had their fair share of scoring chances to double their lead, including back-to-back breakaways for Timo Meier and Nate Bastian, but Vejmelka got them both.
However, no other goals were scored, and the Devils led 1-0 on the scoresheet, in addition to the shot advantage, 9-7.
The Devils were fortunate not to give up a goal early in the second period. Utah had multiple two-on-ones, which were sent wide by sharpshooters Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley. A Guenther shot also rang off the post.
Jack Hughes did his best to get the Devils a two goal lead, setting up Palat on the doorstep, but the struggling winger couldn’t lift the puck over a prone Vejmelka.
They bent and bent and finally broke after the Devils failed to clear the puck. Liam O’Brien found Mikhail Sergachev in the high slot, who snapped one over Daw’s shoulder to tie it at 1-1.
It went from bad to worse when the Devils were awarded their second power play of the night. On an unassuming play, Luke Hughes went to retrieve the puck in the corner, but not before making contact with the bigger Kevin Stenlund. Hughes immediately dropped his stick and grabbed his shoulder in pain. He tried shaking it off on the bench, but the Devils’ top offensive defenseman was clearly in a lot of pain and went down the tunnel to the locker room.
The period from hell ended with Utah having tied the game, Luke Hughes off injured, and the Devils needing to regroup.
Fortunately, Devils fans needed to wait in bated breath for just an intermissions length as Luke Hughes emerged healthy and ready to go for the third period.
The good fortune came early after Meier finally found the scoresheet after wiring a shot past Vejmelka’s shoulder just 14 seconds into the period. Meier was as snake bitten and unlucky as it got, and his 16th of the season got him back in the goal column for the first time since January 27th.
If there’s one thing that Meier loves, it’s scoring goals in March. For those who forgot, Meier led the NHL in goals in March 2024 with a whopping 13.
From one goalless streak broken to another, this time Curtis Lazar. Jack Hughes danced around the offensive zone before cutting toward the middle of the ice. He lost control of the puck, but it spat out to Lazar, who ripped one in.
The goal was Lazar’s first since October 25th, and Hughes’ assist brought his franchise record road point streak to 12 games.
Daws and company shut things down over the final seven minutes to secure the win and a massive two points in the standings.
The Devils will be right back at it Sunday night against the Vegas Golden Knights.
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