Devils Snap 5-Game Losing Streak

 

Photo: Andrew MacLean

After struggling to find a win since the Olympic break, the New Jersey Devils finally broke through on Saturday at Enterprise Center, holding off the St. Louis Blues 3-1 to snap a five-game losing streak. Timo Meier, Dougie Hamilton, and Nico Hischier each found the back of the net, while Jacob Markstrom was locked in between the pipes, making 25 saves for New Jersey to help lead them to victory. Pavel Buchnevich scored the lone goal for the Blues. The Devils are back home on Tuesday, where they will host the Florida Panthers, while the Blues head out on the road; their first stop is on Sunday in Minnesota.

New Jersey Devils Lineup:

Meier - Hischier - Mercer

Gritsyuk - Hughes - Brown

Bratt - Glass - Hameenaho

Cotter - Bjugstad - Tsyplakov

Hughes - Pesce

Siegenthaler - Hamilton

Dillon - Nemec

Markstrom

Allen

St. Louis Blues Lineup:

Neighbours - Buchnevich - Kyrou

Schenn - Dvorsky - Snuggerud

Holloway - Suter - Berggren

Toropchenko - Finley - Walker

Broberg - Faulk

Fowler - Mailloux

Tucker - Kessel

Binnington

Hofer

After a scoreless opening 20, Timo Meier put New Jersey on the board to put them ahead 1-0 early in the second period at 14:23. Luke Hughes got the puck in the neutral zone before handing it off to Brett Pesce, who made a pass up to Meier, who was making his way in the Blues' zone. Meier kept the puck on a 2-on-1 and snapped it high on the left side, scoring his 16th goal of the season. With 16 seconds on the clock, Dougie Hamilton found the back of the net to make it 2-0, recording his eighth of the season with a power-play goal after Jack Hughes carried the puck from the neutral zone into the Blues' end, then curled around the net, and found Hamilton for a one-timer in the high slot.

Pavel Buchnevich put St. Louis on the board to keep from getting shutout when he intercepted Jacob Markstrom's attempt at shooting the puck down the ice, grabbing the loose puck from Pius Suter, and he poked it in for his 13th goal of the season at 1:18 of the third period. With 5 seconds to go, Nico Hischier struck the empty net for the 3-1 final.

Notes:

- Jacob Markstrom made a total of 25 saves for New Jersey. ...If Markstrom had shut out the Blues, he would have become the third Swedish goaltender in NHL history to record 25 career shutouts. He would've joined both Henrik Lundqvist (64) and Tommy Salo (37).

- Luke Hughes returned to the Devils' lineup after missing 10 games due to a shoulder injury. In his return, he recorded an assist.

- With his goal, Nico Hischier recorded his sixth career 20-goal season. He ties Bobby Holik for the third most in franchise history behind Patrik Elias and John MacLean (both with 10).

- Cody Glass skated in his 300th NHL career game.

- In their previous five games, the Devils (29-29-2) were outscored 16-4.

- In the second period of this game, the Devils outshot the Blues 17-6.

- Jordan Binnington made a total of 30 saves for St. Louis.

- The Blues are 21-29-9, and have lost four of five. In their past 11 games, they are 2-8-1.