Devils lose to Golden Knights in first game after Hynes fired

NEWARK, N.J.-- The New Jersey Devils lost their first game after coach John Hynes was fired Tuesday, 4-3 to the Vegas Golden Knights at Prudential Center.

Alain Nasreddine coached his first NHL game for the Devils (9-14-4), who have lost three straight.
"It was a lot of emotions all day long," Nasreddine said. "The game was a lot of fun to be in, obviously. I liked the energy by the team. I really, really liked our first 40 minutes. The third period, it was almost like we ran out of gas a bit. It doesn't take much in this league for the other team to make you pay for it and that's what happened."
WATCH: [All Golden Knights vs. Devils highlights]
Jonathan Marchessault scored a natural hat trick in the third period for the Golden Knights (15-11-4), who won their fourth in a row. Chandler Stephenson scored in his Vegas debut, and Malcolm Subban made 32 saves.
"It's good," Marchessault said of the winning streak. "We didn't have that all year so far, so it's good that we get on a roll. The start of the season the past few years have been inconsistent, so it's fun for us to show some consistency and that we're a force in the League."

Subban, the younger brother of Devils defenseman P.K. Subban, won his fourth straight game in his fifth straight start in place of Marc-Andre Fleury, who is away from the Golden Knights because of a family matter.
"Obviously you get a couple wins you feel better about yourself, you feel good about your game," Malcolm Subban said. "It's been great, but there's still stuff to work on. It's coming along, so it feels good right now."
Marchessault's third goal came on the power play when he scored off his rebound at the left post to give the Golden Knights a 4-2 lead at 9:40. His second goal, on a tip-in, gave the Golden Knights a 3-2 lead at 5:04. His first goal, off a backhand from the right circle, made it 2-2 at 1:05 into the period.
Nico Hischier scored with 10:00 remaining to make it 4-3.
"I would say I'm still processing (the day), but I tried to focus on the game and I think we came out really good, but in the third period, we got scored on and it feels like, 'Not again,'" Hischier said. "It shouldn't be like that. We're all mentally strong enough that we know it's a tie game and we have to play strong."
Kyle Palmieri gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at 16:31 of the first period. Stephenson, acquired in a trade with the Washington Capitals on Monday, scored for a 1-1 tie at 5:24 of the second period. Jesper Bratt gave the Devils a 2-1 lead on a slap shot from the right circle at 14:17.

Mackenzie Blackwood made 26 saves for New Jersey, which was outshot 13-7 in the third.
"The effort was there, and we had a lead going into the third and knew they'd have a push," Palmieri said. "We have to make sure we take some positives out of the game. We wanted better out of ourselves in these back-to-backs and moving into this weekend, we're going to get back to work and expect better out of ourselves."
Nasreddine was an assistant under Hynes, who was 150-159-45 in five seasons with New Jersey and was the fifth longest-tenured coach in the NHL since he was hired June 2, 2015. The Devils lost 4-0 to the New York Rangers on Saturday and 7-1 at the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.
"It's never a good thing when a coach gets fired, and it's up to us in this room," Palmieri said. "We're the ones who play the games. I think, moving forward, we have to be excited for the opportunity to try and turn our season around."

They said it

"Yeah, it's always fun to beat [P.K.], especially knowing how he his ... so it's fun." -- Golden Knights goalie Malcolm Subban
"There's a new voice now, but that can't change the way we play in here; that's on us and that's what guys have to understand. Just because that happened doesn't mean everything is going to be perfect now and easier. We have to show some resiliency, stick together and start to play the way we are capable of." -- Devils captain Andy Greene

Need to know

Fleury could join the Golden Knights before they play at the New York Islanders on Thursday. Garret Sparks, who was the Vegas backup goalie Tuesday, was assigned to Chicago of the American Hockey League after the game. ... Golden Knights forward Alex Tuch had three assists and has six points (three goals, three assists) in a three-game point streak. ... Devils rookie center Jack Hughes (lower body) missed his third straight game. ... Hischier has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past nine games. ... Devils defenseman Matt Tennyson (undisclosed) did not play after he was injured in the first period. ... Stephenson was acquired for a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

What's next

Golden Knights: At the New York Islanders on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV)
Devils: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, MSG+, NBCSCH+, NHL.TV)