Thrilling Overtime Victory for the Devils
In a thrilling finish, Nico Hischier delivered the decisive goal just 42 seconds into overtime, leading the New Jersey Devils to a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night in Newark. The win comes as a relief for the Devils, who were looking to bounce back after two consecutive losses.
Hischier’s powerful slap shot from just outside the left faceoff circle found the back of the net, beating Predators’ goaltender Justus Annunen on the glove side. This marked Hischier’s eighth career goal in overtime and solidified his position as the team’s scoring leader with 18 goals and 23 assists in 54 games.
Challenges Faced by the Devils
The match was not without its challenges for the Devils; star center Jack Hughes was forced to exit in the first period after just three shifts and did not return. The team has not provided updates regarding the nature of Hughes’ injury, raising concerns particularly as he is set to represent the U.S. at the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics, alongside his brother Quinn.
In the game, Jesper Bratt proved crucial, netting the equalizer midway through the third period, which was his 13th goal of the season. This followed Dougie Hamilton‘s earlier goal, which tied the game at 1-1. Hamilton’s offense extended his personal points streak to nine games.
Game Highlights
Nashville’s Michael McCarron opened the scoring early in the first, putting the Predators ahead, before Hamilton responded in the second. Filip Forsberg then nudged Nashville back into the lead early in the third period, marking his place in history by becoming the sixth highest scorer among Swedish players with 338 career NHL goals.
Despite Forsberg’s efforts, the Predators fell to their third straight defeat. Annunen, who faced a barrage of shots, managed to save 32 attempts.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Nashville Predators will face the New York Islanders on Saturday, while the Devils will travel to take on the Ottawa Senators. The outcome of this game underscores the volatility of the NHL season and sets the stage for further developments as teams jockey for position.
AP NHL
