Brett Pesce picked the perfect moment for his first goal of the season, breaking a third-period tie and sending the New Jersey Devils to a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.
Pesce scored at 8:08 of the final period after working his way into a clear shooting lane through traffic in the Los Angeles zone. Luke Evangelista and Artemy Gritsyuk picked up the assists on the defenseman’s goal, which put New Jersey in front for good.
The Devils didn’t stop there. Gritsyuk sealed it with an empty-net goal at 18:55, his team-leading sixth, after Anthony Mantha had already dragged New Jersey back even earlier in the period. Mantha’s goal was his third.
Jake Allen backed up the offense with 12 saves, improving to 5-2-0. The Devils have now won three straight, including earlier homestand victories over Colorado and Anaheim, and have taken five of their last six.
Los Angeles got on the board through Scott Laughton, who scored at 15:57 of the second period for his second goal. That was the one moment the Kings could build on until Mantha answered about three minutes later.
Anton Forsberg finished with 23 saves for the Kings, whose two-game winning streak came to an end.
New Jersey also had a notable moment before puck drop, introducing newly acquired goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The 33-year-old arrived after winning 345 games across 11 seasons with Winnipeg and after collecting three Vezina Trophies.
The Devils included goaltender Nico Daws in Friday’s trade for Hellebuyck. On Saturday, Remi Poirier dressed as Allen’s backup despite not having played an NHL game yet.
Los Angeles had a chance to force the issue late when Timo Meier was called for tripping at 12:59 of the third, but the Kings couldn’t cash in on the power play.
The Kings had entered the night off road wins over Washington and the New York Islanders to begin their five-game trip after dropping their first six games.
Up next, the Kings visit the New York Rangers on Monday, while the Devils head to Dallas on Tuesday.
In Other News...
Nico Hischier Is Giving Devils Fans A Huge New Reason To Dream
Nico Hischiers start has given Devils fans a fresh reason to believe the captain is taking another step forward. His scoring has picked up, his shooting percentage is sitting above his previous career best, and his work at the dot has moved him among the league leaders in faceoff wins. Add in the way he has helped drive the power play, and its been a strong all-around stretch for a player New Jersey already counts on in every key situation.
What makes it especially intriguing is how sustainable it looks. Hischier is producing at a level that points toward a real chance to top his previous goal total, which would mark another meaningful jump in his development rather than just a hot run. For a Devils team trying to keep building around its core, seeing its captain contribute this way only adds to the sense that there may be even more upside ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Just Changed The Metro Race In A Way Rivals Hate
The Devils made a major goaltending move by landing Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets, a deal that could reshape the Metropolitan Division picture almost immediately. New Jersey had been looking to shore up the position, and bringing in a proven netminder changes the way the rest of the division has to plan for the season ahead.
Hellebuyck arrives under a cloud after being suspended for missing preseason and training camp, but the expectation in Newark is that he can still give the Devils a much stronger presence in goal. Around the Metro, teams like the Hurricanes and Rangers were watching related talks closely, which only adds to the ripple effect of a move that opponents clearly would have preferred not to see happen. [Read more 🡒]