The Devils needed a spark Thursday night, and Nico Hischier delivered it in overtime - with authority.
Just 42 seconds into the extra frame, Hischier stepped into a slap shot from just beyond the left faceoff circle and ripped it past Predators goalie Justus Annunen, high glove side, sealing a 3-2 win for New Jersey. It was Hischier’s eighth career overtime goal, and this one came with a little extra weight.
The Devils were reeling from the early loss of Jack Hughes, who exited after just three shifts in the first period and didn’t return. No update was given on his status postgame, but the timing is especially concerning with the Olympics just two weeks away.
Hischier, now up to 18 goals and 23 assists through 54 games, continues to be the steady heartbeat of this Devils team. Dawson Mercer picked up the lone assist on the game-winner, capping off a night where New Jersey battled through adversity to snap a two-game skid.
The Devils found themselves trailing twice in this one. Nashville struck first - Michael McCarron found the back of the net just five minutes into the first period to give the Predators an early edge.
But Dougie Hamilton answered in the second, tying the game at 1 and extending his personal point streak to nine games. That’s no small feat for a defenseman, and Hamilton continues to be a key driver of offense from the blue line.
Filip Forsberg gave Nashville the lead again early in the third, scoring just 1:34 into the period. That goal was a milestone moment for Forsberg - his 338th career tally, which moves him into sixth place all-time among Swedish-born NHL goal scorers.
He now trails only Mats Sundin, Daniel Alfredsson, Markus Naslund, Tomas Sandstrom, and Daniel Sedin. That’s elite company, and Forsberg’s consistency over 833 games has quietly built an impressive legacy.
But New Jersey wasn’t done. Midway through the third, Jesper Bratt capitalized on a Nashville turnover and lifted a shot over Annunen to tie things up at 2. It was Bratt’s 13th goal of the season and a much-needed jolt for a Devils team that had been searching for momentum.
In net, Jacob Markstrom held steady for New Jersey, stopping 27 of 29 shots. On the other side, Annunen turned away 32 shots in the loss, his third straight defeat with the Predators.
The Hughes injury casts a shadow over the win, especially with Olympic rosters locked in and the U.S. men's team set to open play in Milan soon. Jack and his brother Quinn are both first-time Olympians, and with Matthew and Brady Tkachuk also on the roster, Team USA is banking on chemistry and star power to make a deep run. Hughes’ health will be a major storyline to watch in the coming days.
Up next, the Predators head to Long Island for a Saturday showdown with the Islanders, while the Devils travel north to face the Senators in Ottawa.