Prudential Center—Chalk it up to the Devils being young with a lot of energy. They are entertaining and will keep their fans on their feet but will give them a heart attack in the same breath.
Devils’ defenseman Dougie Hamilton scored in overtime for the second straight contest, the New Jersey Devils (31-12-4) came back from a goal deficit to a 3-2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights (29-17-3) at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday.
Hamilton won it at 3:54 with a one-timer from between the face-off circles off a pass from Jack Hughes while on his stomach at the right wall after he tied the game 2-2 from above the right circle with 1:10 remaining in the third.
“I was just trying to get another shot today, the same as last game, just trying to let it rip and see what happens,” said Hamilton, whose goal Sunday gave the Devils a 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ondrej Palat also scored and goaltender Vitek Vanecek made 28 saves as NJD improved to 7-0-1 in their last eight games. Vanecek has won a career-best eight contests in a row, becoming New Jersey’s first goalie to do that since Martin Brodeur in 2007-08.
“We’re competing,” Vanecek said. “We’re scoring goals, playing good defense, defense is blocking the shots. Trying to do everything for the win.”
The Vegas Golden Knights’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Devils on Tuesday was one the team could walk away from with confidence that it took one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams to the brink on the road without some of its key players.
Palat gave New Jersey a early 1-0 lead at 3:58 of the first period when he took a shot from the edge of the right circle that deflected off the stick of Vegas defenseman Kaedan Korczak and over goalie Thompson’s glove.
It was Palat’s first goal since returning from a groin injury on Jan. 5 after missing 32 contests.
“It feels pretty good,” Palat said. “I had a couple of chances in those previous games, but it just feels good to contribute and score.”
Ben Hutton tied it 1-1 with a wrister from the left circle at 12:00 of the second period, and William Karlsson made it 2-1 at 14:51 when he slid in a loose puck behind Vanecek left skate.
Golden Knights goalie Logan Thompson made 33 saves in the game.
The Devils outshot the Golden Knights 4-0 in overtime.
It was tough in the third period for the Devils to generate opportunities but they tied the game on a 6-on-5 forcing an overtime period. Hutton committed a tripping penalty in sudden death to give New Jersey a power play. NJD completed the comeback and won in OT.
“I thought we played a pretty responsible hockey game tonight, and guys were trying to play the right way,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy told the media after the loss. “And unfortunately, two went in off our own guys in the net. And we weren’t able to overcome that.”
UP NEXT:
The Devils will to travel to Tennessee to play the Predators Thursday, Jan. 26 for a 8:00 P.M. start time.
