The Prudential Center—-The New Jersey Devils had been eagerly awaiting Timo Meier’s offensive prowess for over a year, and in a crucial game, he finally delivered. Meier’s three goals, coupled with an assist on an empty-netter by Erik Haula, propelled the Devils to a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night, securing interim coach Travis Green’s inaugural win since taking over from Lindy Ruff earlier in the week.
“Winning is a lot more fun, and now we gotta keep this feeling,” remarked Meier following the game, which halted the Devils’ three-game losing skid and marked their fourth win in 11 contests. “Like I said, we gotta work on our game. We gotta keep building. We have enough games left, where we believe we can still make a big push and put ourselves in a position where we have a shot at the playoffs.”
With 19 games remaining in the regular season, the Devils find themselves six points adrift of a wild-card playoff berth, necessitating a swift accumulation of wins. Though a rare fast start aided their cause against the Blues, the Devils recognize the urgency of stringing together victories, having failed to notch more than three consecutive wins all season.
“It was definitely a good 60-minute game,” affirmed Green. “It was one of the things we talked about before the game was a defensive commitment, playing a 200-foot game. Everyone’s making a run, games are tightening up, and you gotta be committed to playing that way.”
Brandon Saad notched the lone goal for the Blues, who suffered their second consecutive defeat, remaining outside a wild-card position in the Western Conference. Blues interim coach Drew Bannister lamented his team’s sluggish start, emphasizing the importance of avoiding early deficits.
Against the Blues, Meier showcased his offensive prowess, propelling the Devils to a 3-1 lead through two periods. The Swiss forward capitalized on a power play opportunity to open the scoring before adding two more goals to complete his fifth career hat trick.
Meier’s elevated role on the power play was facilitated by the absence of Tyler Toffoli, held out as a precaution amid trade deadline speculation. Green underscored Meier’s significance to the team, expressing optimism about his current form.
As hats rained down onto the ice and chants of “Timo Meier, Timo Meier” echoed throughout the Prudential Center, the night belonged to the dynamic forward.
In other news, Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist experienced a mixed day, securing a contract extension while also facing a fine for diving violations. The Blues will look to rebound as they conclude their New York area stint against the Rangers on Saturday.
Devils: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
