Johnsson helps Devils extend Flyers losing streak to six

NEWARK, N.J. -- Andreas Johnsson had two goals and two assists for the New Jersey Devils in a 5-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Prudential Center on Sunday.

Jesper Bratt had a goal and two assists, Dougie Hamilton had a goal and an assist, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 23 saves for the Devils (9-6-4).
"When we have the power and the energy and play our system, we give them little time and get the puck back quick," Johnsson said. "We made good decisions at the blue lines, put it deep and made some plays."
The line of Johnsson, Bratt and rookie center Dawson Mercer (assist) combined for eight points (three goals, five assists).
"I think Mercer has been a real good fit for [Johnsson]," Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. "That line has a little bit of everything. ... Bratt's speed, Dawson's creativity and Andreas feels good about his game. His desperation has been great because I think he really likes who he's playing with."

Scott Laughton had a goal and an assist, and Martin Jones made 30 saves for the Flyers (8-8-4), who lost their sixth straight game (0-4-2).
"We haven't been able to get those big goals in a timely fashion," Laughton said. "I feel like if we're down a goal, we miss an open net or hit a post, and it hasn't been good enough in the last stretch."
Hamilton scored his sixth of the season on a redirection from the slot to give the Devils a 1-0 lead at 5:07 of the first period.
"It's huge (to beat a Metropolitan Division opponent)," Hamilton said. "I think they're right there with us in the standings. I try to go game by game, but these wins put you in a good spot."
Laughton made it 1-1 on a shorthanded breakaway when he went forehand-to-backhand at the right post at 17:03. It was Philadelphia's second shorthanded goal in two games and third this season.

Johnsson gave the Devils a 2-1 lead on a snap shot from the left face-off circle at 1:47 of the second period.
Blackwood made a glove save on Travis Konecny's snap shot through a screen during a power play at 14:51 of the second.
Joel Farabee tied it 2-2 at 3:04 of the third period when he scored off a pass from Laughton at the left post following a turnover behind the Devils net.
"At the end of the day, you have plays you have to make, whether it's a checking play, stick play or a passing play," Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. "Tonight, we tied it up and felt really good about where we were and, unfortunately, we didn't make the right plays."
Bratt scored on a 2-on-1 with Johnsson at 11:57 following a turnover at the Flyers blue line to give the Devils a 3-2 lead.
"[Bratt] did a great job screaming at me to let me know he was there, so I just had to put it on his stick," Johnsson said. "I knew he was going to score once he got it."
Nathan Bastian made it 4-2 when he scored on a wrist shot from the slot at 14:14 of the third. It was Bastian's second game with New Jersey since being claimed off waivers from the Seattle Kraken on Thursday; he played for the Devils the past two seasons before the Kraken selected him in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft on July 21.
Johnsson scored into an empty net at 17:04 for the 5-2 final.
"Right from Day One in practice, I saw how good [Johnsson] was," said Hamilton, who is in his first season with the Devils. "He's just really smart and makes great plays, great at finishing. It's a lot of fun to play with him."
NOTES: The Flyers were 0-for-3 on the power play and are 4-for-50 (8.0 percent) in 16 games since starting the season 4-for-11 (36.4 percent) in their first four. … Max Willman, a forward recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Saturday, had three shots, one hit and one blocked shot in 10:59 of ice time for Philadelphia. ... Bratt has scored six points (one goal, five assists) during a four-game point streak. ... Hamilton, who had a game-high 10 shots on goal in 19:43, used a custom stick in honor of his late friend Thea, a young girl with cancer he grew close with in Calgary. He said he intends to deliver the stick to Thea's parents. Hamilton played three seasons for the Calgary Flames (2015-18). … New Jersey is sixth in the eight-team Metropolitan, two points ahead of seventh-place Philadelphia.