Devils extend winning streak to five games
New Jersey defeats the Red Wings 3-1 at Prudential Center
A two-goal performance by rookie Nico Hischier propelled the Devils past the Red Wings on Wednesday, and Sami Vatanen's first goal as a Devil was an empty netter to seal a 3-1 victory over the Red Wings.
The Devils' record against Atlantic Division teams has improved to 8-1-3, as the team retains first place in the Metropolitan Division with 49 points in 36 games.
Here are 10 takeaways from the game:
1. Head coach John Hynes coached his 200th NHL game (all with the Devils) on Wednesday night. Hynes has an overall record of 88-85-27 after taking over the Devils' reins two and a half years ago.
Assistant coach Alain Nasreddine also coached his 200th NHL game, while assistant Geoff Ward coached in his 200th with the Devils franchise.
2. Pavel Zacha played in his 100th NHL game on Wednesday night. The Czech forward played on a line with Miles Wood and Stefan Noesen. He played 7:22 on the night.
Tweet from @NJDevils: .@Pavel_Zacha���s looking for the twig with some goals in it. pic.twitter.com/lXsl8CzcBh
3. Cory Schneider put in another solid performance on home ice. Schneider stopped 31 of 32 shots to earn his 17th win of the season. Schneider currently holds a record of 16-6-4.
4. The Devils picked up right where they left off before the break, taking charge of the first period. The team was quick to get shots off on Detroit netminder Jimmy Howard with six registered before the Red Wings were able to register their first at 9:33. New Jersey finished the first period outshooting Detroit 13-7.
5. Hischier snapped an 11-game goal drought when he scored his sixth of the season at 15:16 of the first period. Hischier redirected a Steven Santini point shot to give the Devils a 1-0 lead. Taylor Hall picked up the secondary assist as he continues to add to his point total, the assist was his 23 of the season.
Tweet from @NJDevils: Our Kid Rocks. #DETvsNJD pic.twitter.com/xpZbOZ02vn
6. Hischier would later come charging out of the penalty box and back onto the scoresheet at 18:22 of the first period. His second of the game gave the Devils a 2-0 lead, and with a no-look All Star-caliber pass, Hall again assisted on Hischier's goal. Hall has now recorded multi-point games back-to-back three times this season, and it was the 11th time this season Hall has registered multi-points in a game. Jesper Bratt had the second assist, his 14th of the season.
Tweet from @NJDevils: ����He shoots. He scores. Hischier. We cheer. �� #DETvsNJD pic.twitter.com/793Y9zTMlv
The two-goal performance for Hischier was the second time in his career he's tallied two in a game.
7. The Red Wings would get on the board at 8:09 of the second period, when Detroit winger Justin Abdelkader beat Schneider. The goal was part of a 14-shot second period for the Red Wings.
8. Hischier had a first in his career. Along with his two-goal performance, Hischier took three penalties in a game for the first time. Hischier found himself in the box once in the first period, called for holding Detroit forward Tomas Tatar, and twice in the second period for tripping forward Darren Helm and high-sticking Dylan Larkin.
The Devils' penalty kill came up big Wednesday night, killing off all six penalties they incurred.
9. The Devils have improved their home record to 12-5-2. Their current six-game home-ice win streak comes after going 2-3-2 between Nov. 7 and Dec. 8.
The Devils extended their season-high win streak to five games. In addition, the Devils are 6-0 in their last six home games.
10. The Devils continue their six-game homestand with game No. 6 on Friday night. The Devils will host the Buffalo Sabres before heading to Washington to face the Capitals on Saturday.
