Meier scores twice, Devils rally past Red Wings to end 3-game skid

NEWARK, N.J. -- Timo Meier scored two goals, and the New Jersey Devils rallied past the Detroit Red Wings for a 3-2 win at Prudential Center on Saturday.

"We managed it way better today, found a way to get those two points," Meier said. "I don't think we played our best game but found a way to win at home before the Christmas break, so it's definitely a good feeling."

Tyler Toffoli scored, and Vitek Vanecek made 22 saves for the Devils (17-13-2), who ended a three-game losing streak.

"Vanecek made some huge saves early and I thought we locked it down besides the first goal, for the most part, and that's what we need to do moving forward," Toffoli said. "Obviously, it's fun to win."

Patrick Kane extended his goal streak to three games, and Michael Hutchinson made 33 saves in his debut for the Red Wings (16-14-4), who are 1-5-0 in their past six games. Hutchinson signed a one-year, two-way contract Tuesday with Ville Husso out week to week and Alex Lyon sidelined until after the holiday break.

“There's obviously no such thing as a perfect game, so I'm looking forward to doing the video, going over it and just working on improving each day,” Hutchinson said.

Toffoli scored on a redirection from the slot off Jesper Bratt’s point shot to give the Devils a 3-2 lead at 12:45 of the third period.

"I think if you're getting opportunities and creating the chances that we're creating, you're not really going to get that frustrated," Toffoli said. "You're going to keep having more fire in you. I think that's what we did and we found a way."

Meier tied it 2-2 at 2:46 of the third on a shot from low in the left circle that deflected off the stick of Hutchinson and into the net. It was his third goal in the past two games. 

"We just managed the puck better," Meier said. "Just making smart decisions and not throwing the pucks away, especially playing tight and connected in the defensive zone. I think we cleaned up some stuff and just really played tight. Our goalie made some big saves for us to help us get those two points."

Kane’s snap shot from the bottom of the right circle off a cross-ice pass from Alex DeBrincat gave the Red Wings a 1-0 lead at 4:22 of the first period.

"After allowing the first goal, we had minimal mistakes in our own end," New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. "We got caught with one really long shift but I thought we stayed inside, gave them a couple of outside looks, and got through it."

Meier made it 1-1 when he knocked in a rebound at the left post at 11:43. It was his first point since returning to the lineup on Dec. 1 after missing seven games due to a lower-body injury.

The line of Meier, center Michael McLeod and right wing Dawson Mercer combined for nine shots and a plus-5 rating. "It's great to see," Ruff said. "Timo's fighting hard to get back to form and these last couple of games he's been skating well, is physical. If not for that line, we probably don't get back in the game, but they set the tone for us. We know what Timo can do and maybe this is a springboard for him."

Shayne Gostisbehere gave Detroit a 2-1 lead on a slap shot from the top of the left circle at 10:33 of the second period.

"I thought we made better decisions tonight," Ruff said. "Our young defense handled the game pretty well and when the puck was on their sticks, they made a lot of better decisions."

Detroit played the third period with five defensemen and 11 forwards after forward Christian Fischer and defenseman Jeff Petry collided into each other just inside the Detroit blue line at 14:26 of the second period. Each sustained an upper-body injury and did not return to the game.

"I loved our effort," Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. "Playing three cities in four days, shorthanded there with bodies, playing our fourth goalie ... our guys gave us a great effort. It feels a little disappointing to put that kind of compete and effort and not get a point, but that's the way she goes."

NOTES: Lalonde had no update on Fischer or Petry after the game. … Kane, who played 19:44, has four goals during his three-game goal streak, and eight points (four assists) during a four-game point streak. ... Defenseman Simon Edvinsson had no shots in 13:18 of ice time in his season debut for the Red Wings. ... Ruff earned his 115th win with the Devils to pass Peter DeBoer (114) for third place on the franchise's all-time list. Jacques Lemaire (276) and John Hynes (150) are first and second, respectively. … New Jersey has 11 comeback wins this season, tied for second in the League with the New York Rangers. The Dallas Stars have 12.