OTTAWA, Ont. - The Devils quickly rebounded from Tuesday loss with a 3-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. Erik Haula's deflection, Nathan Bastian's shorthanded goal, and Paul Cotter's third period tally helped the visitors pick up two points in Ottawa. Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk had Ottawa's lone goal.
“I liked our second period a lot,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Took hold of the game and didn’t give up much. And when we did I thought it was really from the perimeter. A couple of their chances, gave up a shorthanded chance there, but good second period. Hated the start of the third period for us, but then we really got going playing the way that we wanted to in that third. Really good process of keeping the puck down in their half of the ice, got rewarded with another goal in that good process, and I thought it really sucked the life out of that game, which is what we’re trying to do.”
“We’ve been good with our responses so far this year,” Erik Haula said post-game. “Even if a team gets a goal, our next couple shifts, our response has been good. And same with games. We try to have a motto not to lose two in a row, and that’s what we strive to do.”
New Jersey had a couple of chances in the opening frame, but weren't able to score in the first 20 minutes. The second period was a different story. New Jersey came out firing and the score quickly reflected it. 2:39 into the period, Erik Haula deflected in Johnathan Kovacevic's shot to open the scoring. Timo Meier entered the zone and drove in which gave Kovacevic a lane to shoot when he received a pass from Meier. From there, Haula's deflection helped New Jersey get past Anton Forsberg.
“Meier made a great play and Kovacevic had some time,” Haula explained. “He got his head up, he waited patiently and my little fly-by screen I got a tip on it. Good timing and good shot by Kovacevic.”
Four minutes later, while on the penalty kill, Nathan Bastian intercepted a pass, went in on a 2-on-1 with Curtis Lazar, and ripped one past Forsberg, making it 2-0 Devils. Bastian's goal was the Devils first shorthanded goal this season. In the opening eight minutes of the middle frame the Devils had ten shots and finished the second period with 14 shots on goal. It was an overall strong effort in the second period.
In the opening two minutes of the third period, the Senators were inches from scoring their first of the night with another shot ringing off the post. Ottawa hit four posts throughout the game. In the final eight minutes of the third, Paul Cotter's goal gave New Jersey at 3-0 lead heading into the final minutes of the game. Dougie Hamilton picked up his first point this season, an assist, on the goal while Brenden Dillon picked up his second assits of the year.
In the final three minutes, Simon Nemec was sent to the box for tripping and the Senators capitalized. Tkachuk's goal with 1:05 left in the game made it 3-1 Devils. Despite the late goal, New Jersey held on and picked up the win.
Jacob Markstrom, in his second consecutive start, made 30 saves on 31 shots to help his team pick up the decisive win.
"I think the more games we play together, the better chemistry we're having," Markstrom said about his team. "Especially me with the defense and all that stuff. I thought they did a fantastic job today and the penalty kill is doing a great job all year. The guys made it easy for me today.
"It was kind of back and forth a little bit," Markstrom also said. "The game was up for grabs. And we get a big goal from our own zone to the back of their net. And then the penalty kill comes up big with Bastian scoring a big goal for us. It was a solid game through and through."
Keefe had nothing but praise for his goaltender who picks up his third win of the season.
“Outstanding,” Keefe shared. “Terrible he doesn’t get the shutout that he deserves in this one here. You feel for him when they make that call, and you just kind of feel like it’s just going to give them a little extra life. But he was outstanding for us, no question. I thought in the early going of the game in the first period he was really strong and really kind of let us get our legs going in the game. And that’s really what you want from your goaltenders, to give you a chance to hang around in the game, find your game, and once you have it, you have the confidence that he’s going to help you take care of it.”
