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The Devils travel to the nation's capital to face Washington Saturday night. The game can be seen on MSG+ and heard on the Devils Hockey Network, including right here at NewJerseyDevils.com. Puck drop is 7:08 p.m. ET.
Here are some observations from the game...
- The Devils power play unit, though it did score one goal on the night, really cost them the game in the end by surrendering two shorthanded tallies. In fact, the Devils had a four-minute double minor man-advantage late in the third period with the game still tied at 2-2. New Jersey failed to score and gave up Engvall's shorty, which would prove to be the game-winner.
"Call it stupide, careless, irresponsible, call it whatever you want," Ruff said, "but if you're going to win a hockey game, your four-minute power play, take advantage of that. We didn't get it done."
"We didn't execute. That should not happen, especially twice," Hischier said. "It's frustrating. We did a lot of good things, but these two stupid plays cost us the game."
- Sometimes in hockey, it's better to be lucky than good. The Devils got some of that "puck luck" on their opening goal of the game. On a power play, defenseman Damon Severson had the puck in the near circle and tried to pass to Jack Hughes on the opposite side of the crease. However, the puck deflected off of Leafs blueliner Ilya Lyubushkin and through the five-hole of goalie Peter Mrazek, who opened his legs in anticipation of that pass getting to Hughes. It was a fortuitous bounce, but New Jersey will take it.
- For one look at Dougie Hamilton's hockey IQ, watch the play he made on Hischier's second-period goal. He finds open ice near the blue line and calls for the puck, slamming his stick on the ice. He lets himself drift down low (while opening up a passing lane) for Jesper Bratt, who is at the far wall and blue line. As Hamilton receives the pass from Bratt he already knows that Jack Hughes is on the opposite side of the crease. Without hesitation as the puck arrives, Hamilton makes a no-look slap pass across to Hughes to create an incredible scoring chance. All of that happened in less than two seconds. (Hischier would score a few seconds later on the rebound).
- The Devils went with 21-year-old rookie netminder Nico Daws in both games of their back-to-back contests. It's a tough ask for any netminder, let alone a neophyte like Daws. But he handled himself extremely well, including coming up with a marvelous stop on John Tavares from point blank. The coaching staff showed a lot of trust to put him in for another game in less than 24 hours, and he proved it was the right decision.
- The Devils recalled defenseman Kevin Bahl and forward A.J. Greer from Utica Wednesday morning and it didn't take long for them to crack the lineup as both played against the Leafs.
Bahl in particular had a big role in the game, logging a decent share of ice time and even saw some action against a deadly Maple Leafs' power play. He used his angles well, never getting beat up ice or leaving too much of a gap with his partner, P.K. Subban. He also was very physical in the game, using that 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame to punish opponents. It was perhaps his best showing in the NHL.
"I thought he felt comfortable," Ruff said. "Sometimes you look at a young player and they look nervous. He didn't look nervous. He looked like he belonged. He looked like he's taken that step saying I'm almost there. I know I can make plays. I know I can protect pucks."
"You prepare the best you can, get the first shift under you and you're good to go after that," Bahl said.
Blueliner Ty Smith and forward Mason Geertsen were scratched.
