Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) reacts after the New Jersey Devils’ Miles Wood (44) scored a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game February 19 in Newark, NJFrank Franklin II/The Associated Press
Fabian Zetterlund and Miles Wood scored within two minutes of the third period and Mackenzie Blackwood made 23 saves as the New Jersey Devils defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 on Sunday night.
The Jets led 2-1 into the third period thanks to goals from Cole Perfetti and Neal Pionk in the first half. The Devils rebounded with three goals in the third, extending their home-win streak to six games.
Zetterlund scored his sixth goal 5-02 to level the game before Wood beat Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck 6-53 with his ninth goal to give New Jersey the lead.
“We know we’re a good team and we’re playing right,” said Blackwood, who has improved to 8-5-2 this season. “If we score a goal or two or whatever, there’s a lot of confidence here that we can get that goal back.”
Dawson Mercer scored two goals for the Devils, including an empty netter. Erik Haula added two assists for the Devils in a 5-2 away win over Pittsburgh on Saturday. New Jersey is 21-4-3 on the road and 16-10-2 at home.
“We’re never out of a game and we’re responsible as a team,” Mercer said. “We play until the end.”
Mark Scheifele had two assists for the Jets, who had won six straight games at the Prudential Center and hadn’t lost since January 2012 in Newark — with an 8-0-2 record over that span before Sunday’s game.
“That just escaped us,” said Scheifele. “You play against such a capable team and they make you pay.”
Perfetti opened the scoring at 14:57 of the first goal, catching a rebound and scoring his eighth goal past Blackwood. The 21-year-old forward has a total of 30 points in his second NHL season.
The Devils responded quickly at 3:16 p.m. when Mercer made assists from Nico Hischier and Dougie Hamilton.
Pionk gave Winnipeg a 2-1 lead at 5:09 p.m. and shot the puck from the point past Blackwood for his eighth.
The Devils dominated the second and had their best chance of equalizing with just over five minutes to go when Jesper Bratt broke through on Hellebuyck alone but hit the post. New Jersey had another chance in the dwindling seconds of the middle section, but Hellebuyck knocked the puck off an attacking Zetterlund’s bat.
Mercer inserted his 15th goal into an empty net at 19:04 of the third.
Devils coach Lindy Ruff praised his team’s determination to pull off another comeback win at home.
“We have individuals who have had great years, but if you want to be a good team, we need everyone,” Ruff said. “Goals have to come from many places. You need a second score and you need other people to get on the board.
Hellebuyck, who made 25 saves, fell to 6-2-1 in his career against the Devils.
“There was some turnover tonight and they capitalized,” Hellebuyck said. “We were in control for most of the game and let it slip away.”
The Jets, who suffered a 3-1 loss at Columbus on Thursday that ended a three-game winning streak, stayed three points behind first-seeded Dallas in the Central Division.
“You can’t flip pucks. We gave them those two goals,” said Jets coach Rick Bowness. “You have to play a full 60 minutes. Our puck management needs to get better.”
REMARKS
Winnipeg has not won a division title since moving from Atlanta for the 2011–12 season. They finished second three times, 2012-13, 2017-18 and 2018-19. … The Devils scratched at defenseman Kevin Bahl and forward Nathan Bastian. … The Jets scraped forward Sam Gagner and defensemen Logan Stanley and Kyle Capobianco. … The teams will meet again in Winnipeg on April 2nd.
NEXT
Devils: Host Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.
Jets: Visiting the New York Rangers on Monday.
Source: www.theglobeandmail.com
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