Jesper Bratt scored two goals and had an assist and Jack Hughes also recorded a three-point performance, powering the New Jersey Devils to a 5-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday in Newark, New Jersey.
Hughes joined Ondrej Palat and defenceman Jonas Siegenthaler in scoring a goal and Jacob Markstrom made 21 saves to propel the Devils to their fourth win in their last five games.
Montreal’s Alex Newhook scored twice to double his season goal total and Brendan Gallagher also scored.
Sam Montembeault turned aside 22 shots for the Canadiens, who have lost five straight and nine of their last 11 (2-7-2). Montreal has conceded at least four goals in eight of 14 games this season.
Gallagher cleaned up a loose puck on goal to cut New Jersey’s lead to 3-2 with 59 seconds remaining in the second period.
However, Hughes chased down a fancy lead pass from Bratt and converted a breakaway at 6:23 of the third period to regain the Devils’ two-goal lead.
Just 1:50 later, Newhook took advantage of his superior speed and lofted the puck past Markstrom for his second goal of the game.
Bratt, however, added his second of the game by scoring into an empty net with 26 seconds left.
Hughes set up a pair of goals to give New Jersey a 2-0 lead in the first period.
Hughes evaded Newhook and defenseman Kaiden Guhle before backhanding a pass to Bratt for an easy conversion at the far post to open the scoring at 93 seconds of play. Hughes’ pass from behind the net was finished off first time by Palat at 12:38 of the first period.
Newhook’s shot from the left circle bounced off Markstrom and into the net to cut the deficit exactly five minutes into the second period.
Siegenthaler regained the two-goal lead 5:20 later after receiving a pass from Erik Haula before beating Montembeault between the pads. Siegenthaler’s goal was his first since Dec. 21.
–Field-level media