Nico Hischier’s natural hat trick in the second period led the New Jersey Devils to a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Monday in Newark, N.J.
It was Hischier’s first hat trick in his eight NHL seasons, as the forward ended his 10-game goal drought in epic fashion. Despite the recent scoring slump, Hischier leads New Jersey with 13 goals this season.
Erik Haula and Justin Dowling also scored for New Jersey, and Johnathan Kovacevic had two assists. Jacob Markstrom stopped 19 of 21 shots for the win.
The Devils are on a three-game winning streak, and they are 8-2-0 in their past 10 games.
New Jersey collected their first home win over Nashville since March 3, 2015. The Predators won on their next eight visits to New Jersey.
Filip Forsberg and Zachary L’Heureux scored for the Predators, who are 2-3-2 in their past seven games.
Juuse Saros stopped 26 of 30 shots before being replaced by Scott Wedgewood to start the third period. Wedgewood stopped all 15 shots faced in the relief effort.
Forsberg opened the scoring on the Predators’ first shot of the game at 5:06 of the first period. Haula finished off a nice Devils passing play for the equalizer at the 11:29 mark.
More crisp passing set up New Jersey’s next tally 3:52 into the second period. Timo Meier found Hischier rushing down the right ice of the ice, and Hischier scored after pulling past Nashville defenseman Marc Del Gaizo.
Nashville was 0-for-5 on the power play, while the Devils were 1-for-2 on the power play against the Predators’ league-leading penalty kill. New Jersey’s extra-attacker goal came from Hischier at 10:01 of the second frame.
Hischier completed his dream period on a breakaway goal at the 16:57 mark. Stefan Noesen forced a turnover at the blue line and passed to an open Hischier streaking toward the net.
L’Heureux scored 7:39 into the third period, but Nashville couldn’t add any more offense despite a five-minute power play later in the frame when Meier got a five-minute major penalty for cross-checking L’Heureux.
Dowling punctuated the Devils’ victory with an empty-net goal at the 17:25 mark.
–Field Level Media
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