New Jersey 5, Minnesota 4
When: 8:30 PM ET, Friday, February 15, 2019
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Referees:
Brad Meier, Justin St. Pierre
Linesmen:
Derek Amell, David Brisebois
Attendance:
19041
By Field Level Media
Nico Hischier scored with 1:41 left in overtime Friday night to cap a big comeback by the New Jersey Devils, who scored the final four goals to stun the host Minnesota Wild 5-4.
The Devils, who trailed 4-1 with fewer than two minutes left in the second period, salvaged the finale of a three-game Western Conference road trip by winning for just the second time in the last seven games (2-4-1).
By virtue of the loser point, the Wild moved into sole possession of the second wild card in the Western Conference despite falling for the seventh time in eight games (1-4-3) -- one day after head coach Bruce Boudreau guaranteed the team would make the playoffs.
The Wild dominated the overtime before goalie Devan Dubnyk turned the puck over while trying to make a clearing pass behind the Minnesota net. Kyle Palmieri, who picked off the pass, missed an attempt to jam home a shot, but the puck skittered to Hischier, whose shot sailed into the open corner of the net.
Marcus Johansson scored in the second period for the Devils, who forced overtime on unanswered goals by Will Butcher, Palmieri and Ben Lovejoy.
Cory Schneider earned his first regular season win since Dec. 27, 2017, by stopping all 15 shots he faced in relief of Keith Kinkaid, who was chased after allowing four goals on 17 shots.
Brad Hunt, Joel Eriksson Ek, Nick Seeler and Mikael Granlund scored for the Wild. Dubnyk made 23 saves.
Hunt and Eriksson Ek scored fewer than four minutes apart prior to the midway point of the first for the Wild. Johansson scored an unassisted goal just 26 seconds into the second period to cut the gap in half for the Devils, but Seeler and Granlund scored a little less than five minutes apart to extend Minnesota's lead to 4-1 and chase Kinkaid just 7:19 into the period.
Butcher scored with 1:50 left in the second to begin the comeback by the Devils. Palmieri's power play goal 8:16 into the third pulled New Jersey within one, before Lovejoy's goal forced overtime with 2:45 to go.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
| New Jersey |
|
Minnesota |
|
Nico Hischier 2 |
Points |
Mikael Granlund 2 |
|
Nico Hischier 1 |
Goals |
Mikael Granlund 1 |
|
Jesper Bratt 2 |
Assists |
Ryan Suter 2 |
|
Kyle Palmieri 1 |
Power Play Goals |
Brad Hunt 1 |
|
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
|
Cory Schneider 1.000 |
Save Percentage |
Devan Dubnyk .821 |
|
Cory Schneider 15 |
Saves |
Devan Dubnyk 23 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
| New Jersey
|
28 |
5 |
1-4 |
1-2 |
4 |
34 |
| Minnesota
|
32 |
4 |
1-2 |
3-4 |
8 |
28 |
Upcoming Games
-
Minnesota will play their next game at home against St. Louis. The Wild have a W/L % of .481 after a win and .452 after a loss.
-
New Jersey will play their next game at home against Buffalo. The Devils have a W/L % of .364 after a win and .389 after a loss.
For more information, contact us