Devils Head into Break on High Note | GAME STORY

MONTREAL, PQ. - The Devils are heading into the 4 Nations break with a bit of pep in their step after a victory in Montreal.

Jesper Bratt, Paul Cotter and Jack Hughes all scored for New Jersey in a shutout victory against the Canadiens on Saturday afternoon, the final game before a two-week break between games.

The Devils built their lead with goals in each period en route to a 4-0 victory.

"Today was a way for us to really dial it in, last game before the break," Bratt said. "I think we did that throughout the whole lineup. Everyone knew what their job was and executed the right way.”

Bratt opened the scoring in the first, before Cotter capitalized with net-front presence in the second, and then the Hughes brothers each tallying in the third.

The Devils benefited from their quick changes off the bench to wear down the Canadiens on extended offensive zone shifts. Twice, the Devils managed to make quick changes that resulted in goals.

"Our first two goals of the game come off of O-Zone line changes, it’s a major part of our game," head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "When we’re playing well we’re getting teams in that situation, out-changing them and getting fresh people to get on top of them. It’s the Lazar line that does the work on the first goal, Bratter comes off the bench and gets rewarded.

"Then it’s the Dowling line that does the work on the second one," he continued to explain. "We get Jack and Bratter out there on a favorable situation and they make plays and Cotter does a great job at the net. That’s not just making it up and relying on individual skill that’s cohesion and the group playing together.”

In net, Jake Allen picked up his second victory this season against his former team, Montreal, making 34 saves for his 4th shutout of the season. Allen preserved his shutout in the final 15 seconds when Canadiens Owen Beck was awarded a penalty shot after being hauled down by Luke Hughes.

Allen came up big for himself, making the save and ending the game in style for win.

"We wanted that so much for Jaker," Bratt said post-game. "I knew Jaker wanted it as well too. We’re all very happy for him, especailly coming back here to Montreal and getting that shutout was great.”

Here are some observations from the game:

• The Devils' penalty kill continues to roll on; even with one of their top PK-men in the box, it would happen. Johnny Kovacevic took two penalties against Montreal and the Devils were able to kill off both Canadiens man-advantages. The Devils extended their penalty-kill prowess killing off their 18th straight penalty.

Jack Hughes's goal came off a rush set up on the penalty kill, though did not register as a shorthanded goal by the time his shot wired in past Samuel Montembeault. Hughes' goal gave the Devils a 3-0 lead.

“It’s all in Nico’s absence, and he’s so important for us and Siegenthaler on defense," Keefe said of the penalty kill. "If I was to list them, they are probably two of the most important penalty killers and everyone is stepping up and sticking to the plan, executing, competing. It’s tremendous.”

• With a goal and an assist this afternoon, Jack Hughes has his 99th career multi-point game for the Devils. He's 9th all-time and will tie Bobby Holik for 8th with his 100th.
• Jesper Bratt's point streak extended to eight games with his opening goal against the Canadiens. The goal was also Bratt's sixth point in three games against the Canadiens this season.

Bratt broke free into the high slot, where Tomas Tatar found him from behind the Canadiens net with a tape-to-tape pass. With that much time, space, and accuracy, Bratt will rarely miss, and he didn't. His 17th goal of the season put the Devils up 1-0 on the Canadiens.

• With two points against Montreal, Bratt completed his 95th career two-or-more point game for the Devils, ranking 12th all-time in franchise history. He is not one multi-point game away from tying Scott Niedermayer for 11th all time.

• There's something about playing in the Bell Centre for Jack Hughes. Another two-point game in the building in Montreal brings Jack's career totals in Montreal to 11 points seven games in Montreal (3g-8a).

• Paul Cotter tied his career-high in goals with his 13th of the year. Cotter capitalized off a rebound by Samuel Montembeault in the second period to put the Devils up 2-0.

Cotter ended a lengthy shift for the Devils where, with the short change, New Jersey could make quick changes as they held possession in the offensive zone. With fresh legs off the ice, and Justin Dowling changing off for Jesper Bratt, Jack Hughes worked the puck down low along the boards in a battle with Canadiens defenseman Logan Mailloux. As Hughes fell to the ice, he had the wherewithal to find Bratt in the high-slot. Bratt's shot produced a rebound off Montembeault and Cotter did the dirty work in front for his 13th of the year.

• Cotter's goal came just after the Devils weathered a push from the Canadiens to open the second period. Montreal carried most of the play through the first 10 minutes of the second period but New Jersey remained composed waiting for their opportunities.

"I think every time you’re in this building it gets pretty loud," Cotter said. "The energy gets there for that team. But we just stick to our game, we emphasized that a lot. We don’t need to do too much. Just stay to our game, stay to our game. eventually if we do that, the other team will break down and we did a good job of that.”

• Johnny Kovacevic played his 200th career NHL game.