The New Jersey Devils were staring at a mess Thursday night, and Dougie Hamilton helped keep it from turning into one.
What looked like a comfortable night had nearly slipped away after Connor Hellebuyck gave up three goals in the third period and let a 4-1 lead disappear. It had the feel of the Montreal Canadiens’ collapse on Tuesday night, when they blew a 4-0 lead to the Jets with less than three minutes left. The Devils were in danger of following that same script.
They did enough late to force overtime, with Jack Hughes coming close to ending it in regulation before Jordan Binnington shut the door. Binnington made a huge save on Hughes right at the end and had already robbed him twice in the third period. But once the game got to overtime, the Devils found the finish they needed.
This time it wasn’t Hughes. Jesper Bratt took over, jumping on a breakaway and beating Binnington clean for the winner.
That finish doesn’t happen without Hamilton.
The key moment came when Hamilton made the defensive play that turned a dangerous 2-on-1 into a chance the other way. He broke up the pass, moved the puck to Bratt on the far side, and Bratt did the rest. It was the kind of stop that doesn’t show up as flashy offense, but it absolutely decides games.
Hamilton has been doing that kind of work all season. He got off to a shaky start and made a few mistakes in his own zone, and when goaltending was uneven, those mistakes were costing the Devils.
Thursday had that same kind of feel. With Hellebuyck struggling, any lapse could have been fatal.
Hamilton understood the moment and handled it.
The Devils have leaned on him for exactly this role. Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce have become the top defensive pair, but Hamilton has still been playing like a number-one defenseman. That has mattered as the team has worked to close off space in its own end.
The approach has been more aggressive with Hamilton, and the results have been clear. The Devils are still allowing shots, but they are not giving up a flood of high-danger chances. Hamilton has been helping shut down scoring chances at even strength and on the penalty kill, and that showed up again Thursday night.
Without that breakup, the Devils likely lose. Instead, they escaped with a win and kept the good vibes intact.
Hamilton has earned the credit, and he has been worth every bit of his $9 million. There has been talk that he should still be on the trade block, but that does not hold up. He keeps making clutch plays when the game is on the line, and the Devils need that from him.
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Devils Escape A Brutal Collapse In A Win Fans Will Debate
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St. Louis stormed back to tie the game in regulation, leaving the Devils with two very different takeaways from the same result: two points in the standings and plenty to clean up after letting a three-goal advantage slip away. Bratts finish gave New Jersey the escape it needed, but the way it got there is the part fans will be talking about. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Mantha Is Giving Devils Forwards An Edge They May Need
Anthony Manthas night against the St. Louis Blues was a good example of why the Devils were intrigued by what he could add to their forward group. He moved through multiple roles in the lineup, scored two goals and picked up an assist, and his ability to shift into different spots gave New Jersey a little more flexibility as the game unfolded. With his size and physical presence, he has become part of the depth that can help this forward unit hold up over the course of the season.
The bigger test came after Timo Meier was hit with a game misconduct, forcing Mantha and the rest of the forwards to absorb even more responsibility. In a game that demanded more from the top nine and beyond, Manthas presence stood out as more than just offense. He has given the Devils an edge in matchups and in the grind of a game, and they may need that kind of versatility again as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]