2023020127
[NHL.com Boxscore](https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/2023020127)
|Teams|1st|2nd|3rd|Total|
|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|
|[MIN](/r/wildhockey)|1|1|1|3|
|[NJD](/r/devils)|1|3|0|4|
##Team Stats
|Team|Shots|Hits|Blocks|FOW%|Giveaways|Takeaways|Power Play|PIM|
|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|
|[MIN](/r/wildhockey)|33|4|16|54.9%|2|2|1/6|6|
|[NJD](/r/devils)|30|8|18|45.1%|3|10|2/3|12|
##Goals
|Period|Time|Team|Strength|Description|
|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|
|1st|06:13|[NJD](/r/devils)|Even|[Jesper Bratt (5) snap shot, assist(s): John Marino (5), Kevin Bahl (2)](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340110378112)|
|1st|14:53|[MIN](/r/wildhockey)|Even|[Pat Maroon (1) wrist shot, assist(s): Jonas Brodin (3), Brock Faber (2)](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340109025112)|
|2nd|02:31|[MIN](/r/wildhockey)|Power Play|[Ryan Hartman (6) backhand shot, assist(s): Calen Addison (4), Joel Eriksson Ek (5)](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340109342112)|
|2nd|06:10|[NJD](/r/devils)|Power Play|[Tyler Toffoli (7) tip-in shot, assist(s): Jesper Bratt (8), Luke Hughes (4)](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340109652112)|
|2nd|06:54|[NJD](/r/devils)|Even|[Erik Haula (5) slap shot, assist(s): None](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340111144112)|
|2nd|16:39|[NJD](/r/devils)|Power Play|[Jesper Bratt (6) wrist shot, assist(s): Timo Meier (6), Luke Hughes (5)](https://players.brightcove.net/6415718365001/EXtG1xJ7H_default/index.html?videoId=6340111256112)|
|3rd|15:17|[MIN](/r/wildhockey)|Even|Jake Middleton (1) wrist shot, assist(s): Pat Maroon (6), Marcus Foligno (3)|
##Penalties
|Period|Time|Team|Type|Min|Description|
|:–:|:–:|:-:|:–:|:–:|:–:|
|1st|00:15|[MIN](/r/wildhockey)|MIN|2|Jake Middleton high-sticking against Jesper Bratt|
|1st|07:52|[NJD](/r/devils)|MIN|2|Dougie Hamilton tripping against Jon Merrill|
|2nd|02:23|[NJD](/r/devils)|MIN|2|Erik Haula hooking against Marcus Johansson|
|2nd|05:45|[MIN](/r/wildhockey)|MIN|2|Ryan Hartman slashing against Brendan Smith|
|2nd|10:04|[NJD](/r/devils)|MIN|2|Chris Tierney hooking against Marco Rossi|
|2nd|12:23|[NJD](/r/devils)|BEN|2|too-many-men-on-the-ice served by Timo Meier|
|2nd|16:10|[MIN](/r/wildhockey)|MIN|2|Dakota Mermis high-sticking against Michael McLeod|
|3rd|09:20|[NJD](/r/devils)|MIN|2|Curtis Lazar hooking against Dakota Mermis|
|3rd|18:23|[NJD](/r/devils)|MIN|2|Erik Haula high-sticking against Kirill Kaprizov|
**Three Stars:**
* 1 – Jesper Bratt
* 2 – Luke Hughes
* 3 – Vitek Vanecek
**Officials**
* Referees: Jake Brenk, Steve Kozari
* Linesmen: Trent Knorr, Devin Berg
If you notice an error with this bot [click here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=TeroTheTerror&subject=HockeyMod Issue&message=Subreddit:%0A%0AIssue:) to message TeroTheTerror.
by HockeyMod
45 Comments
Death
Taxes
Devs games ending 4-3
Habachi King gets it done
mercer lookin terrible lazar and mcleod looking amazing
Vitek haters in shambles right now
Devils win, I am pleased
JESPER BRATT IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE.
No points for Jack? *sad devil noises*
I tried to start Fleury chants
Holy crap this team is not good for my blood pressure.
It sucks to see Mercer with absolutely 0 confidence right now.
Give that man the finest meal at the finest hibachi place in New Jersey!!!
It wasn’t easy, but the boys did it!
!
They won for the Captain!!
Devils pretty much controlled that final period. Good job by Vitek getting into a groove.
Damn, I have never seen a Devils PP with this much firepower
Mercer so far is a massive blackhole offensively.
Hurts to see
well that was 98% of a great game, a good sign though that they’ve looked a little better each of these last couple games, I think the slow start is finally picking up steam. VV was mostly great tonight, but definitely want him to have that third goal. We’ve gotta start doing some black magic or something to get Mercer some points, the dude is cursed right now.
One of these days we’re going to win a nice routine 3-1 game. One of these days.
11 points out of 16 in October: solid start. I’ll take a 70% point percentage any day of the week.
That was a hell of a game. Defense showed up more. Vitek is ascendant. Bratt is elite. We showed we don’t need to be overly reliant on Jack
Get Smith off my New Jersey Devils hockey team
It’s kinda nice to see teams actually paying for shit managerial and roster making decisions. They are so lucky kaprisov hit so hard because the kids don’t seem to be getting it done. A las, the
Wild remain Mild
Jesper got paid and still stepping up his game. Love it.
Mercer’s got the heebee geebees…
Hopefully he’ll figure it out.
I was going to say this was one of our most solid games until that late 3rd period collapse, but still we survived for the W.
Our D was such a step up from the last few games, this is what we need to show up on a consistent basis. One thing I’m noticing as our weakness is that once we take the lead, there’s no sense of urgency to our game anymore, yeah we try for more offensively but we drop every other aspect of the game.
Ruff needs to clean that up.
Once this team learns to play a full 60, its over for you bitches.
Good to keep collecting points even though we’re not playing very well. But no one is in their final form or close to it, so we good
Merced’s in slump but can we talk about how great McLeod had been?
Devils identity this year seems to be all goals and power plays. Maybe not the most sustainable method but they play some entertaining hockey.
Merc dawg has the jitters for sure. Little mental block for still a young kid, once he figures things out he’ll be rolling too. Overall the team is cleaning up gradually, still plenty to improve, but it’s looking less scary
According to hockey stats cards Game Score, there have been 178 defenders who have played 6+ games (the least amount of games played by a team, Dallas). Brendan Smith ranks 169/178.
Dawson caught the bug Haula had last season to start. I wouldn’t mind getting him signed at a discount, but really hope the kid shakes it off.
This team sure likes to keep it interesting huh
Solid win, and the issues in our normal section persist, which meant I got upgraded tonight to row 4 behind the net, aka a perfect vantage point to cheer on my teammates who are on the Delta Dental ice crew, couldn’t have been better!
It’s so frustrating watching this team as certain players gain more experience, but the reward will be so much higher. I’m pointing to the loss of Sevo and Gravy. We’re still winning which is the most important thing
The Devils are 3-0-0 when I attend a game:
* Every game we play we get better. Every game we play.
* We need to uncurse Dawson Mercer.
* JBITBPITNHL.
* casual two point night for Lukey.
* Our Power Play is immense. Immense.
* We scored first! We did it! We scored first!
* Jack point streak is over, but he’ll just start a new one.
* How many times do you think Toffee thanks Satan for this trade?
* I was a little concerned with some pockets of play in our zone and how hemmed in the PK was. But we’re missing Nico who is arguably one of our best PKers and I think the one I was really concerned about had Haula in the box who is another really good PK man.
* VI-TEK VI-TEK VI-TEK.
* I think a good game for the Bahl-Marino pairing and a not so good game for the Dougie-Siegs pairing. Still think we should try mixing around the D pairs.
Anyway, hope the three days off means we get Nico back and going on the road trip! First big road trip of the season, let’s continue our road warrior status!
Best games of the season by Marino and Vitek. Would be huge if they could get going.
Bratt’s such a fucking stud, and it’s nice to see Toff continuing to look impressive and Meier continuing to heat up. Offensive depth was never going to be an issue but Christ, the talent in the top 6 is scary.
After he looked so good last game, it’s frustrating how little Holtz got to play. I think it was just the combination of no longer having a good center on the fourth line and all the penalties we took, but I hope he’s able to keep showing those signs of fitting in.
Mercer is looking so snake bitten it’s hard to watch. He’ll come around but man, he’s in his own head. Though I still put that botched 2-0 entirely on Lazar, didn’t put Mercer in a good position to do anything.
I’m a bit worried about Jack. Ever since he got rocked a few games ago, it seems like he’s had trouble keeping the puck on his stick and is too quick to get rid of it, like he’s afraid to get hit. Reminds me a bit of his jumpy play in earlier seasons. Don’t know if it’s mental or physical or just a couple off games after a tremendous start, but I’d like to see him return to being the best player in the league instead of a mere all star.
Finally, I don’t really think we got jobbed at the end by the refs. Lazar lost an edge on the empty net, they could’ve called a trip but it wasn’t anything egregious. And then Haula clearly hit Kap in the head with his stick. It’s infuriating that it happened, but neither was an unreasonable outcome and I think this game was actually a lot more evenly called than most of our previous ones (though I acknowledge that’s a meaningless statement with how terrible reffing has been this year).
Is Jack hurt? Looked skittish and timid all game.
Yesssssssss Vitek postgame interview. Give the people what they want!!!
2-0 on my Devils road trip, pleased as I can be! Both games this weekend were pretty intense right down to the wire.
See y’all back in Nashville for the Preds game in February!
thought Bahl had a very solid game defensively based on the eye test alone. idk if the metrics will back that up or not, but he seemed very poised
Can we be happy now??? First goal in the game, still came back, goaltending the difference, players not named Jack Hughes showed up. What is there to complain about now?
Love this team, going to be a long wait until their game on Thursday but it will at least be a happy start to the week
Really wanted to go to this game, but agreed to some friends to miss the game to go upstate NY for a hayride and Halloween themed escape room. I fucking hate escape rooms. Found at 4pm that the place was canceling due to weather. GF and I immediately jumped on StubHub and picked up tix for row 6!in the corner. Threw a jersey over my sloth costume and ran to Penn Station as fast as we could. Missed the first few mins of the game but we’re so happy we ended up here! I think this was the most complete game of the season. Definitely a day well spent over the fucking escape room! LFG!
Team’s getting better. Defense wise they let in 2 on 5v5 (Smith with a -2 +/- lmao), and went 5/6 on the PK. Offense still clicking, once Mercer, Timo and Palat start scoring more we’ll have the best offense in the league. Now we rest up for back to back road games.
If Bratt played with Hughes he’d put up 100 points a season. It’s more important for him to be the player that drives the 2nd line though.
There are few things that make me smile more than hearing woos from the escalator all the way to Newark penn.
Honestly, even with the struggles we’ve had, we still have a 68.75 pt% on pace for 112 or 113 pts. We have room to improve, but that’s a good thing.
Smith is the worst.
Starting to kick into gear but we’ve not reached our full potential yet.