Hischier’s Heroics Lift Devils Past Kraken in OT Thriller
NEWARK, NJ - In a game that demanded patience, discipline, and a little extra magic, Devils captain Nico Hischier delivered all three - and then some. His second goal of the night came at 3:42 of overtime, sealing a gritty 3-2 win over the Seattle Kraken at Prudential Center on Wednesday night.
It wasn’t flashy hockey. It was trench warfare - the kind of grind-it-out battle that tests a team’s resolve. And Hischier, once again, proved he’s more than up to the challenge.
“We have to find ways to win hockey games,” Hischier said postgame. “These guys didn’t give us much.
Their numbers speak for themselves. They’re good at defending the rush and not giving up a lot.
They’re comfortable playing tight games.”
Seattle came in with their usual brand of stingy, structured hockey - the kind that forces opponents to stay sharp or pay the price. Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe recognized the challenge.
“This Seattle team, they hang around, they make it hard on you, they don’t give up very much,” Keefe said. “They tempt you to beat yourself. That’s how they go about it.”
But the Devils didn’t blink. And when overtime opened up the ice just enough, Hischier saw his moment. He jumped on a partial breakaway and froze Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer with a slick deke, pulling the puck to his backhand and sliding it over the line.
“I wanted to take it to my forehand, but saw pressure coming there,” Hischier explained. “It was instinct, I guess.
At the last second I went to my backhand because (Grubauer) thinks I’m going to my forehand, too. So, it worked out pretty well.”
Captain Clutch
Hischier’s impact wasn’t limited to the overtime winner. He also delivered on the power play in the second period with a shot from above the circle that deflected off a Kraken defender and snuck past Grubauer. It was the kind of goal that underscores a simple truth in hockey: sometimes, getting pucks on net is the best play you can make.
Keefe didn’t hold back in praising his captain’s all-around performance.
“It was a clutch goal and even the power play goal,” Keefe said. “Today was goals, and I thought in Minnesota it was puck battles and playmaking, being good in the trenches.
He’s done it all for us and we need that to continue. That’s leadership.
The rest of the group can fall in line from there.”
Glass Kicks Things Off Early
Cody Glass wasted no time setting the tone, scoring just 54 seconds into the game. It was a textbook example of winning the small battles that lead to big results.
It started with a clean faceoff win in the offensive zone, directing the puck back to Dougie Hamilton at the point. Glass didn’t stand still - he worked his way toward the net, got bumped off his lane, spun to the outside, and looped around to the crease. Hamilton fired a shot from the blue line, the rebound bounced out, and Glass was right there to bury it.
That’s three goals in three games for Glass, who’s starting to find his rhythm at a key point in the season.
Markstrom’s Response Game
Jacob Markstrom gave up a goal he’d like to have back early in the first - a clean shot from former Devil Adam Larsson that beat him blocker-side. But what followed was the kind of response you want to see from your goaltender.
Just a minute later, the Devils were on the penalty kill. A second goal there could’ve tilted the game.
Instead, Markstrom stood tall. He denied Jared McCann from a similar angle to the Larsson goal, this time getting his blocker on it.
Then, he stoned Matty Beniers from the lower circle with a sharp left pad save.
It wasn’t a perfect outing, but it was a timely one - the kind that keeps you in games when the margins are razor-thin.
Hamilton’s Quiet Impact
Since returning to the lineup after being a healthy scratch, Dougie Hamilton has quietly been making a difference. He’s picked up three assists and is a plus-4 over the last two games. His shot from the point helped set up Glass’s opening goal, and his overall play has looked more assertive and confident.
“I think he’s done a good job for us since coming back,” Keefe said. “I don’t know what to attribute it to, but we’re happy with it.”
Faceoff Watch: Meier Steps In
With Jack Hughes still not taking faceoffs as he recovers from a finger injury, the Devils have had to get creative. Timo Meier has been stepping in, though it’s not his natural role. He went 1-for-5 in the circle on the night, and the coaching staff is clearly trying to minimize those situations.
Late in the game, we saw a bit of a workaround: Cody Glass took faceoffs on Hughes’ line with Jesper Bratt, then swapped out for Meier once the puck was in play. It’s a small adjustment, but one that shows the coaching staff is managing Hughes’ recovery with care - without sacrificing possession.
Final Word
This was a mature win for the Devils - not just because of the result, but because of how they got there. They didn’t force plays against a team that thrives on mistakes. They stayed disciplined, leaned on their stars, and got big moments from their depth.
And when it came time to finish it, their captain put the team on his back and delivered. Again.