In a nail-biting encounter at the Bell Centre, Jack Hughes delivered a spectacular overtime goal, leading the New Jersey Devils to a thrilling 4-3 triumph over the Montreal Canadiens. This victory marks the Devils' ninth consecutive win at the Bell Centre, a remarkable streak dating back to April 2018.
Hughes struck the decisive blow at 4:06 of the overtime period, delivering his team's spirits to new heights. The game-winning move by Hughes comes as a much-needed boost for the Devils, who are finding their footing after a rocky patch.
The match saw Jake Allen in impressive form, making 29 saves on the night. This was Allen's first regular-season game against the Canadiens since his trade to New Jersey in March 2024, and he made it a memorable one with commendable performances throughout.
In addition to Hughes, the Devils found the back of the net through Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Tomas Tatar, highlighting the team's diverse scoring abilities. The victory marks the second consecutive win for New Jersey, a welcome turnaround after a challenging period that saw them lose nine of their last 11 games.
For the Canadiens, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Alexandre Carrier stepped up, each finding the net. Despite their efforts, the Canadiens fell short, facing back-to-back defeats for the first time since mid-December 2024.
Rookie Jakub Dobes was tested in the Canadiens' net, making an impressive 40 saves despite suffering the first loss of his NHL career. Dobes had previously celebrated wins across his initial five NHL games after being recalled by Montreal late last year.
The Devils faced a significant challenge, coming into this game without their starting goalie, Jacob Markstrom, who is sidelined due to an MCL strain. Markstrom is anticipated to miss up to six weeks, adding pressure to the roster.
Montreal's energetic trio of Suzuki, Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky was integral to all three of their team's goals, demonstrating strong offensive synergy as they collectively contributed seven points.
A pivotal moment for Montreal came when Nick Suzuki won a face-off, passing the puck to Kaiden Guhle, who then set up Carrier for a slap shot that equalized the score early in the third period. This goal was Carrier's first since joining the Canadiens in a trade from the Nashville Predators.
Looking ahead, the Devils are set to face the Philadelphia Flyers, seeking to extend their newfound winning streak. Meanwhile, the Canadiens will aim to bounce back during their upcoming clash against the Winnipeg Jets. With such tight competition, both teams are poised to deliver more thrilling moments as they progress through the season.
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