Scott Wedgewood made 40 saves, Jack Hughes had a goal and an assist, and the New Jersey Devils beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Thursday night at the Prudential Center in Newark.
PK Subban and Travis Zajac also scored and the Devils won their second straight at home after losing 11 matches (0-10-1) to Newark.
McKenzie Blackwood was expected to start in goal for New Jersey, but she was scratched after the warm-up. The team says the absence COVID-19 was not related.
For Pittsburgh, Jake Guangel and Brian Rust scored and Tristan Zari scored 32 runs. Pittsburgh lost their second straight.
Subban, with his third goal of the season, gave the Devils a 2–0 lead with a bang slap shot at 8:42 of the second period. The charismatic defenseman extended his talk to three games. Hughes and Jesper Brat assisted on the power-play tally.
Jazzack pushed New Jersey’s three goals to a 1:37 lead after Sucaban’s strike. Devils defenseman Damon Severson fired an innocent wrist shot to the point that netted that Zarak redirected Jarry past. Zajac has amassed seven points (one goal, six assists) in the last six matches.
In the final minute of the second period with a front redirection on the mantage, Gantzell spoiled Wedgwood’s shutdown bid. Prior to the power-play goal, the Devils successfully hit 16 straight penalties in the last five games. The play was assisted by Kriss Letang and Kasparni Kapanen.
New Jersey outscored Pittsburgh from 22 to 13 in the second period.
Hughes opened the scoring with a sharp-angle, top-shelf snipe at 10:02 of the first period. The 19-year-old scored his seventh goal of the season overall, from his cheating year. Ty Smith and Kyle Palmieri assisted in the play.
Rust pulled the Penguins within one at 19:55 of the third period.
Penguins alternate captain Evgeny Malkin did not travel to New Jersey against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday after a late injury.
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