The Devils recorded their first shutout since Nov. 11 (at Vancouver, 2-0 W), and Keith Kinkaid's first shutout of the season, and the fourth of his career. Kinkaid started his third straight game, and appeared in the 100th game of his NHL career. Since Feb. 13, Kinkaid has nine wins, which is tied for the second most in the league (M. Jones, SJ - 9 W, M.A Fleury, VGK - 9 W, P. Rinne, NSH - 11 W).
The Devils are 7-5-2 against the Pacific Division and 14-11-3 against all Western Conference opponents. Since the 2013-14 season, the club is 4-1-0 against the Kings at Staples Center and 6-4-0 overall.
Michael Grabner opened the scoring for the Devils with a shorthanded goal 8:29 into the first period. Grabner now has two goals in two games, and three points in his last two (2G-1A). Additionally, the Devils are now tied for first in the NHL with 10 shorthanded goals.
Nico Hischier notched New Jersey's second goal of the game 13:27 into the first with help from Damon Severson, and Brian Gibbons. Hischier scored his 16th goal of the season, and his fifth point in five games (3G-2A). Severson has three assists in his last three games played, while Gibbons has three assists in his last two.
Miles Wood scored his 17th goal of the season, his first since Feb. 17 (10 GP). The goal came 6:06 into the third frame, with help from Brian Boyle. Boyle has 3PTS (1G-2A) in his last three games played.
TONIGHT at ANAHEIM DUCKS
The Devils will close out their regular season series against the Anaheim Ducks after winning their first matchup on Dec. 18 at Prudential Center, 5-3. New Jersey's final game against the Ducks in the regular season will close their 14th of 16 back-to-back sets. The Devils are 7-5-2 in first games and 6-7-0 in second games of back-to-back sets.
New Jersey is 7-5-2 against the Pacific Division and 14-11-3 against all Western Conference opponents. The Devils are 1-3-0 at Honda Center and 3-5-1 overall against the Ducks since 2013-14. New Jersey's last win at Honda Center was on Nov. 20, 2013 when Devils forward Travis Zajac scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
Miles Wood led the Devils with two goals in the clubs first meeting, for his third multi-goal game of the season. Brian Boyle had three assists, in the final 14:04 of the third period, on each of the final three Devils' goals. It was Boyle's second three-point game of the season, after he had one goal and two assists, the prior game against Dallas on Dec. 15.
Sami Vatanen had one assist in his first game against his former team, after being traded to the Devils for Adam Henrique, Joe Blandisi and a 2018 third round pick. Henrique led the Ducks with 2PTS (1G-1A) in his first game back at Prudential Center. Both players have exceled with their new teams since the trade on Nov. 30. Henrique has 27PTS (16G-11A) in 46 GP with the Ducks, while Vatanen has led all Devils defensemen with 26PTS (3G-23A) in 46 GP with the Devils.
Jesper Bratt (1G-1A) and Stefan Noesen also had multi-point games for the Devils. Noesen, notched the game-winning goal with 4:07 remaining in the final period and added a second goal, on an empty net, for his first career two-goal game. Bratt tied the game at three in the third and assisted Wood's power play goal in the first period.
Andy Greene, Pavel Zacha and Blake Coleman also had one assist each for the Devils.
Cory Schneider stopped 21 of 24 shots in the win and is 6-4-1 with a .905 SV% and 2.46 GAA in his career against the Ducks.
