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New Jersey returns home to host their rivals the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday and the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. Saturday's puck drop is 2 p.m. ET and you can follow the action on the Devils Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages. You can also find more coverage at njd.TV.
The Devils penalty kill was called on for the third time late in the first period when Jack Hughes was called for tripping with 1:18 on the clock. The Wild were unable to score during the first part of power play, despite numerous chances. However, they would still have 42 seconds with a man-advantage at the start of the second period.
The Wild outshot the Devils 36-16 and Minnesota saw five minutes on the power play in the first period. Although, the Wild were leading in those categories, the Devils go into the second period with a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The Devils were able to once again kill off the penalty, stopping all three of the Wild power play opportunities New Jersey has seen so far this game.
Minnesota tied up the game at 1 when Ryan Hartman scored halfway through the second period. Hartman first shot was stopped by Blackwood, but Hartman stuck with it, gathered his rebound and put it on net once again.
It wouldn't be long before the Wild scored again, this time a goal from Brad Hunt, on the odd-man rush. Hunt, got a pass from his teammate, found room in the slot, and got past Blackwood.
The Devils would respond quickly though when Zacha scored his second of the night to tie up the game once again, this time at 2. 36 seconds after Hunt's goal, Zacha scores after a give-and-go with Nikita Gusev. Zacha's shot went low against Minnesota's goaltender.
In the last minute of the second period, Joey Anderson had the go-ahead goal for the Devils to take a 3-2 lead. Zajac brought the puck into the zone, waited until Anderson got past his defender, and fed it quickly to Anderson. Anderson scored, hitting a hole blocker side. The Devils finished the second period up 3-2.
Shots were even in the second period, with both teams landing 28 shots on net. Neither team had any special teams action in the second period.
The Wild tied the game once again two minutes into the third period. Mats Zuccarello, shoots from the left face-off circle, and gets passed Blackwood.
Jesper Bratt was called for tripping five minutes in to the third period putting the Devils back on the penalty kill. The Wild were successful on the man-advantage and scored 30 seconds later. Kevin Fiala was right on the doorstep and buried a rebound to make it 4-3 Wild.
The Devils power play had their first opportunity six minutes into the third period when the Wild were called for tripping. The Devils power play saw several close chances on goal but were unable to find the equalizer.
Halfway through the third period, Kyle Palmieri found the back of the net to make it tied 4-4. Nico Hischier's pass to Palmieri sets up the winger, to shoot low and get past the goaltender.
Connor Carrick is called for tripping with six minutes left in the game. With only three seconds left in the penalty kill, Zuccarello buries his own rebound to give the home team a one-goal lead with less than four minutes left in regulation.
Matt Tennyson is called for tripping with three minutes left, and the penalty kill is called for the fifth time tonight. The Devils kill off the penalty and have less than a minute of even strength play to find the equalizer. The Devils pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker but were unable to convert and tie the game.
The Devils finished the game with 59 shots on goal and two minutes on the power play. New Jersey's penalty kill allowed two goals in six man-advantage opportunities. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 98 out of the 103 shots he faced throughout 60 minutes. For the second straight game, Pavel Zacha led the team in points, tonight he contributed two goals.
Janne Kuokkanen was injured in the first period and never returned to the game. At this time he is day-to-day with an upper body injury.
New Jersey will return home for their next two simulated games. They host their rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday and the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.
