NEWARK, NJ– Dawson Mercer scored two goals for the New Jersey Devils, who scored three goals in the third period to defeat the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 at the Prudential Center on Sunday.
Erik Haula had two assists and Mackenzie Blackwood made 23 saves for the Devils (37-14-5), who celebrated a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday and have been breaking 5-1-1 since the All-Star.
“We’re never out of a game and we’re responsible as a team,” said Mercer. “We know we can defend a lead when we have it but we can also bring it back when we’re behind if we stick to our game and that’s really worked for us lately. We’ll play until the end of summer.”
The win was the sixth straight home win for the Devils.
“We talked about it before we started our little streak…that we definitely need to be a better home team,” New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. “I think the biggest problem was how we handle the puck. Sometimes we put a little too much finesse into our game compared to a straight line game, bring it in between and try even harder to check beforehand.”
Video: [email protected]: Wood, McLeod combine to score in 3rd minute
Neal Pionk had a goal and an assist, Mark Scheifele had two assists and Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves for the Jets (34-21-1), who have lost back-to-back.
“They had their chances and we got away from them a bit,” said Scheifele. “We lacked passes and we didn’t execute as much as we should have.
Fabian Zetterlund equalized after 5:02 of the third period with 2:2. Haula stole the puck from Kyle Connor behind the net and passed to Zetterlund for a one-timer off the right diamonds.
Miles Wood then gave the Devils a 3-2 lead at 6:53 a.m. Michael McLeod passed the puck between his legs at the left post to Wood, who beat Hellebuyck by five holes with a one-timer.
Mercer hit the empty net with 56 seconds left to make it 4-2.
“I’d like to see some of our lines get a little bit of chemistry right now,” Ruff said. “We’re at that time of year where if we can get the chemistry on the lines and score or produce goals from anyone on different lines, we become a very dangerous team.”
Video: [email protected]: Mercer scores 19 seconds after the Jets score
Cole Perfetti gave the Jets a 1-0 lead at 14:57 of the first period after a rebound in the slot.
Mercer responded 19 seconds later to equalize 1-1. After controlling a loose puck in the slot, Mercer attempted a backdoor pass to Tomas Tatar at the left post, which Winnipeg defender Nate Schmidt accidentally shoved into his own net.
“I passed over there, two of them were there, and I was just happy to see the puck go in to celebrate,” Mercer said. “It didn’t matter who put it in, as long as it went in. Nothing else matters.”
Pionk put Winnipeg back up 2-1 with a slap shot from the point at 17:09 of the first.
“We played a pretty good game, keeping them on the outside and letting me see pucks,” said Hellebuyck. “In the playoffs we get tenacious and kill time. It was a couple of turnovers tonight and they capitalized.”
Blackwood kept the Devils up at 2:48 of the second half when he used his left pad against Scheifele on a left wing rush to make his best save of the game.
“I like where my game is and of course I’ll keep trying to build it up in every game and every practice session,” Blackwood said. “But it feels good to get a win.”
Said Ruff: “We will need both goalkeepers (Vitek Vanecek) because the schedule will be very demanding. [Blackwood] fought me through that first period and, I thought, did a hell of a job.”
REMARKS: Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers left the team with an undisclosed injury after being knocked onto the ice at 11:58 of the third period. There was no post-game update. … Devils forward Jack Hughes had his 10-game point streak end. … New Jersey is 14-to-14 at home on penalties during its six-game winning streak.
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