NEWARK, N.J. — Brock Nelson scored twice, Cal Clutterbuck had a aim and an help and the New York Islanders beat New Jersey 6-4 Friday night time, handing the first-place Devils simply their second regulation loss in 21 video games.
Anders Lee, Casey Cizikas and Oliver Wahlstrom additionally scored, and Mathew Barzal and Alexander Romanov every had two assists as New York improved to 8-2-0 of their final 10 journeys to Prudential Center. Semyon Varlamov made 25 saves.
“It was a good hockey game. It’s a team that’s been playing well all year and we’re trying to catch them,” mentioned Islanders ahead Zach Parise. “There’s a lot on the line. We had a good little outburst in the second period.”
Jack Hughes had a aim and an help, and Nico Hischier, Tomas Tatar and Dawson Mercer additionally scored for the Devils. Dougie Hamilton, Jesper Bratt and Jonas Siegenthaler every had two assists.
Vitek Vanecek began and gave up 4 targets on 17 photographs earlier than he was pulled early within the second interval. Akira Schmid got here on and completed with 13 saves the remainder of the way in which.
“It is tough to win every night and if you don’t take care of the puck and your details aren’t good … you’ll lose,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff mentioned. “Our goalies have given us such good nights. Our puck play caught up to us.”
The Devils took the early lead when Hischier scored his twelfth on the ability play 5:32 into the sport.
Nelson scored from the precise aspect off a go from Romanov to tied it with 4:23 left, giving him some extent in seven straight video games.
“We kind of felt like we wanted to come out and play a strong game,” Nelson said. “It’s an enormous win.”
Vanecek made a sprawling glove save on Nelson with two minutes left within the first earlier than Lee put New York forward 2-1 with 9 seconds left within the interval. It was his ninth.
Romanov additionally leveled Devils ahead Miles Wood with a physique verify at 12:05 of the second, sparking a melee in close to the Islanders internet. Romanov was challenged to a struggle by Devils ahead Michael McLeod.
“I can’t just let him skate through the four guys and score,” Romanov said. “I by no means chase some guys, by no means tried to destroy anyone. Just a clear hit, strong.”
Cizikas got his first of the season at 3:31 of the second and Wahlstrom scored his seventh 34 seconds later to make it 4-1 and end Vanecek’s night. It was the sixth time this season — and fourth in the last six games — the Islanders scored two less than a minute apart.
“I like the way in which we performed,” Islanders coach Lane Lambert said. “I like the truth that we stayed linked as a gaggle. And 5-on-5 did an excellent job. It was a really encouraging efficiency.”
Mercer pulled the Devils to 4-2 at 6:03 with his seventh of the season before Nelson scored again on the power play with 3:13 remaining for his 14th.
“I feel we lacked somewhat little bit of self-discipline,” Hischier mentioned. “I liked the effort at the end, but if you gave up six goals it’s hard to win.”
Clutterbuck made it 6-2 along with his third aim of the marketing campaign 1 minute into the third.
Tatar obtained his seventh at 2:30 with Bratt getting his team-leading twentieth help on the play.
New Jersey pulled Schmid for an additional skater with greater than seven minutes left and Hughes scored his team-leading 14th at with 6:21 remaining to make it 6-4. That was as shut because the Devils obtained.
HISTORIC SWEATERS
The Devils wore their Reverse Retro white sweaters for the primary time at dwelling. The jerseys characteristic the colour schemes of the Kansas City Scouts and Colorado Rockies, the franchise’s earlier two houses earlier than shifting to New Jersey for the 1982-83 season.
UP NEXT
Devils: At the New York Rangers on Monday night time.
Islanders: Host Carolina on Saturday night time.
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