Bratt has goal, assist to help Devils edge Kraken

NEWARK, N.J. -- Jesper Bratt had a goal and an assist in his 500th NHL game for the New Jersey Devils in a 3-2 win against the Seattle Kraken at Prudential Center on Friday.

"I'm happy to contribute; that's what I want to do," Bratt said. "If it means setting up a play, holding on to a puck or scoring a goal, so it feels great to be a part of helping the team win, especially in my 500th career game."

Jack Hughes had two assists and Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves for the Devils (18-9-2), who have won three of their past four games and six of eight. New Jersey hasn't lost to Seattle in regulation (5-0-2; 4-0-0 at Prudential Center) since the latter joined the NHL in 2021-22.

Philipp Grubauer made 33 saves for the Kraken (13-14-1), who had won two straight, including 5-2 at the New York Islanders on Thursday.

"We didn't have a lot of relentless repeated attack on net," Seattle coach Dan Bylsma said. "I thought Grubauer was really solid. They had a couple flurries and tough pucks in the crease, and he was strong. The disappointing story is we don't get enough run support for him."

Timo Meier gave the Devils a 3-2 lead 53 seconds into the third period. Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn tried to take the puck behind his net but bounced it off the right post and turned it over in the slot where Meier was waiting for his 200th NHL goal.

"We're starting a [five-game] home stretch and we wanted to come out and win this first game," Meier said. "It wasn't pretty, but we found a way. Maybe a puck bounced our way, but you got to earn those sometimes."

Andre Burakovsky, who was in the lineup after being a healthy scratch the previous two games, gave Seattle a 1-0 lead at 10:16 of the first period on a snap shot from the bottom of the left face-off circle.

"I think we stepped up in the third period but there are some areas in the game we can clean up," Burakovsky said. "Their first line with Bratt and Hughes ... I think we gave them a little bit too much time to skate around and make plays."

Luke Hughes made it 1-1 at 12:27 with his first goal of the season on a wrist shot from the left circle that deflected off Grubauer's right shoulder and mask. Jack Hughes, Luke's brother, earned the primary assist.

"I mean, 20 games is enough for me [to score my first goal], so good for me to break through and a big win for our team," Luke Hughes said. "I called for the puck ... I was wide open. Jack is an unreal player and he's going to make good plays. He put it on my tape, and I just put it in the back of the net."

Shane Wright gave Seattle a 2-1 lead at 3:41 of the second period when the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft took a pass from Eeli Tolvanen from the opposite face-off circle and scored power-play goal at the left post.

Bratt made it 2-2 on a snap shot from the right face-off circle through a screen provided by Ondrej Palat that deflected off defenseman Adam Larsson at 8:03 of the second. He has nine points (three goals, six assists) on a four-game point streak.

The 26-year-old was asked if he ever imagined playing 500 games as a sixth-round pick (No. 162) in the 2016 NHL Draft.

"Five hundred games is so far away ... I was just hoping and wishing and working to play one game at that point," Bratt said. "I'm very thankful for being in the position I am right now. I worked my way here and am thankful for the coaching staff and everyone from my first couple years who gave me the opportunity when I worked hard for it."

NOTES: Burakovsky replaced forward Yanni Gourde, who missed the game with an undisclosed injury. ... Wright has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past seven games after having two points in his first 18 games this season. ... Meier (200 goals, 202 assists) is the second Switzerland-born player in NHL history to score 200, joining Nino Niederreiter (232). ... Tomas Tatar played 11:32 in his return to the Devils lineup after missing two games with a lower-body injury. ... Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton had three shots in 19:27 in his 800th NHL game (193rd in New Jersey). … Jack Hughes has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) on a four-game point streak.