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WHAT'S NEXT
The Devils continue a three-game homestand with back-to-back games against Tampa Bay. The game can be seen on MSGSN and heard on the Devils Hockey Network, including right here at NewJerseyDevils.com. Puck drop is 7:08 p.m. ET.
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Here are some observations from the game...
- Bratt picked up goals 26 and 27 on the season in the game. His first came while skating 4-on-4 with Hughes. Bratt got around Brett Pesce and Hughes fed him the puck for a semi-breakaway. Bratt buried his shot through the five-hole of goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov for the tally.
Bratt's second goal came on a broken play after Kochetkov mishandled a puck in the trapezoid. The puck found its way to the crease and Bratt knocked it in.
"I whacked at it two, three times with my blade and that didn't work," Bratt joked. "So I figured I'll lay down and hit it with my shaft instead."
- Hughes only had one goal in his past 11 games since returning from an upper-body injury in mid-February. He was certainly creating chances for himself but wasn't getting pucks through. He was finally rewarded for his efforts against Carolina.
Hughes scored his 37th goal of the season after a great defensive play, stripping the puck from Hurricanes defenseman Calvin de Haan at the Carolina blue line. After stealing the puck, Hughes cut toward the net. Shayne Gostisbehere cut off the angle to the net, so Hughes just ripped a shot through Kochetkov's five-hole.
Hughes also picked up two assists for his 27th multi-point game of the season, tying Taylor Hall (2017-18) for the Devils all-time record.
- The first two Devils goals came on shots through the five-hole. In the previous matchup between the two teams in January, the Devils scored three of four goals against Kochetkov between the legs.
- It isn't often a turning point in a game occurs at the 8-minute mark of the first period. It was a save by goalie Vitek Vanecek. Starting from his right post, Vaneck had to slide to his left post quickly to stop Sebastian Aho. Then Vanecek had to keep his skate and pad solid on the post as Aho and Jesse Puljujarvi were digging for the puck. Tomas Tatar hit Aho while Ryan Graves threw his body into Puljujarvi. The last two players were assessed penalties, setting up a 4-on-4 situation. Bratt scored to give New Jersey a 2-0 lead. The save kept it from being a 1-1 game, and the Devils turned it into a two-goal swing.
- It was also a great bounce back game for Vanecek, who had surrendered 13 goals in his past three outings. He was absolutely stellar in his positioning, reading and reaction. And having it come against a team as strong as Carolina will only boad well for his confidence.
"I had a little tough time. I was battling through that," Vanecek said. "I'm really happy for that game. I hope I can start rolling again."
- Forward Erik Haula skated in his 600th-career game. His son held up a sign at the glass for his dad during warmup in a heartfelt moment.
