Here are some observations from the game:
• Simon Nemec scored his seventh goal of the season, to hit 16 points through 30 games. Nemec is approaching his career-high in points from his rookie season, where he had 19 points in 60 games (3g-16a).
• After scoring just one goal in their previous three games, the Devils did find more of their offensive touch, putting up three goals against the Senators. The majority of the offense came from the depth of the lineup, with the third and fourth line pitching in. The line of Brown, Glass, and Gritsyuk accounted for two goals, while Paul Cotter had a magnificent individual effort on the Devils' third goal.
Cotter jumped into the passing lane and picked off the puck in the neutral zone, and weaved into the offensive end. He slowed down, sold the first shot with a subtle lift of his skate, and got Ullmark to bite before taking his actual shot.
• The third line of Cody Glass, Arseny Gritsyuk and Connor Brown accounted for eight points on the night, the Devils depth stepping up in a big game.
“Our line was just forechecking hard, getting it to the point, just simple as can be and it worked," Glass, who scored his fifth goal of the season, said. "Sometimes that’s just how the game has to go when you’re going through a losing streak; simplifying it is the best case. For us, I thought we just stayed positive and just left everything in the past and had a new game today.”
"They were pretty much the reason that we won," Hischier said. "That’s what good teams do, different lines step up in different games, especially when you’re going through a stretch like that, people step up and we did that today."
• Jacob Markstrom was routinely run over in his crease by the Ottawa Senators, and only once were the Senators called for goaltender interference. But you don't quite want to poke that bear if you're an opponent, as head coach Sheldon Keefe explains:
“I actually think that the harder (the Senators) came to the net, the harder Marky played. I don’t know if there is a greater competitor that we have than Marky. So you start going hard to the net like that, he’s going to be that much more engaged in the game and competing. I thought it was great, the way he stood his ground in those moments, but also just dug in and helped will our team to getting the two points.”
• New Jersey picked up its first win of the month of December after starting the month with four consecutive losses.
• It has been uncharacteristic this season for the Devils to concede multiple power-play goals to their opponent, but they gave up three to the Senators on Tuesday night. All three of Ottawa's goals came with the man-advantage. The last time the Devils gave up three power-play goals to their opponent was on Oct. 28 to the Avalanche in Colorado. In that game, New Jersey gave up four power-play goals to the Avs.
"Tonight we gave up three power play goals and we’re still able to get (the win),” Brown said. “It speaks to how good our process was five-on-five and how well we played. There’s a lot to be excited about. These are the types of stretches that, later in the season, you’re grateful for because you learn a lot about yourself and your group. It’s good to see our group playing back to our identity.”
• Colton White entered the lineup on defense in place of Dennis Cholowski.
