Big Roadie | THREE THINGS

The Devils just completed their season-long five-game road swing through Dallas, Arizona, Colorado, Seattle and Vegas. They went an impressive 3-1-1 with wins against Dallas, Arizona and Vegas and a shootout loss to Seattle.
"It was a great road trip for us. We played well and finished it off strong," captain Nico Hischier said. "It's a good feeling."
Here are Three Things to takeaway from the 12-day trek across the West, presented by Geico.

Sequence:Hischier carried the puck for 18 of 20 seconds leading up to the goal. During that sequence he was able to angle his body to protect the puck while using cutbacks and edge work to change direction to keep his defenders (Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin) at bay and a step behind. It was an incredible display of skating, hands and intelligence.
Finish:After working his way around the offensive zone, Hischier was finally able to open up a lane to the net. One final cut to get inside of Seguin and he was on his way toward the goal uncontested. Hischier whipped a shot near side to complete the play. Without the finish, the play would likely be forgotten. Now, it'll be remembered forever.
Situation: The setup was incredible. The goal magnificent. But what really made it a special play, was its importance in the game. The contest was tied nearing the end of the third period. Hischier would score with 1:11 remaining in regulation to give New Jersey a 2-1 lead. The Devils would go on to win 3-1 to snap an eight-game road losing streak.
And if Hischier's goal wasn't enough, Jesper Boqvist provided his own highlight reel moves to deke Alex Pietrangelo and score the game-winning goal against the Vegas Golden Knights. So, what was Hischier's response to Boqvist's goal? "Ew. That was gross."

2. Rookie First(s)

It isn't every day that two rookies - yes, two - score their first-career NHL goal in the same game. But that's exactly what happened when the Devils visited the Coyotes April 12 in the desert. In that contest, forward Fabian Zetterlund and defenseman Kevin Bahl each hit the career milestone.
In the first period, Zetterlund, playing in his sixth-career game, skated up ice on a 2-on-1 with Hischier, who made a cross-ice pass. Zetterlund ripped a quick shot into the net and screamed with joy while pumping his fists.

In the second period, Bahl collected the puck at the far point. Despite there being a collection of bodies at the net, Bahl unloaded a heavy blast that eluded everyone and hit the netting on the inside of the goal.

Zetterlund, 22, and Bahl, 21, became the first tandem to score their first-career NHL goal in the same game for New Jersey since Nov. 12, 2010, when Mattias Tedenby and Alexander Vasyunov scored against Edmonton.

3. Franchise First

It's not every day that you play in a building for the first time. But New Jersey did just that in Seattle, facing the expansion Kraken in the Emerald City for the first time in franchise history at Climate Pledge Arena.
And so, every single event was a "first." Jesper Bratt scored the first-ever goal for New Jersey in the building at 3:12 of the first period. The two teams played their first overtime session and shootout. And, ultimately, New Jersey suffered its first-ever loss in the newest NHL city.
The Devils did net a point in the contest with a third-period rally to force the overtime session thanks to Damon Severson's goal. Despite the setback, it was an exciting and memorable evening.
"It's a fabulous building. It's got a great atmosphere," Ruff said. "When you can walk into a building and one side has glass, a lot of natural light, it's got a great feel. The facility itself, the dressing room, the coaches' room are fantastic. They've done an unbelievable job here."