Devils' Rally Comes Up Short to Ottawa in OT | GAME STORY

Despite two goals from rookie forward Nolan Foote and a two-goal third-period rally, the Devils lost, 5-4 in overtime, to Ottawa at Canadian Tire Centre Tuesday night.
Along with Foote's first-career two-goal game in the NHL, Devils also got contributions from Pavel Zacha and Yegor Sharangovich.
The Senators received goals from Tim Stutzle (2), Thomas Chabot and Drake Batherson's two goals, including the OT winner.

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The Devils end their two-game road trip in Carolina Thursday night. The game can be seen on MSG+ and heard on the Devils Hockey Network, including right here at NewJerseyDevils.com. Puck drop is 7:08 p.m. ET.
Here are some observations from the game...
- This game felt lost when Stutzle scored his second of the game with a shorthanded tally six minutes into the third period to give Ottawa a 4-2 lead. However, the Devils would not go quietly into that good night. On the same New Jersey power play - 55 seconds after the shorty - Zacha scored on a great one-timer on a give-and-go setup by Jesper Bratt. Less than three minutes later, Sharangovich posted his 25th goal of the season to even the game at 4-4 and stunned the crowd. - What's most impressive about the two goals scored by Foote in the game is that they were very different. The first, he collected a pass from Fabian Zetterlund and went top shelf against the grain on goalie Anton Forsberg - an absolute snipe. The second was a rebound where he was battling at the crease and found a loose puck as the second period was about the expire. Foote showed he can do it all, skill or grit.

"He found the spot on that first shot and just being around the net," Ruff said.

"It's really important for me as a player. It's good for my confidence," Foote said. "To continue to build my game. Playoffs in Utica will hopefully be a long good push. It feels good going into that. Hopefully the last two games I can get into the lineup up here as well."

- And how about that play by Zetterlund on the Devils' first goal? He beat Ottawa defenseman Thomas Chabot (quite the skilled skater) up the boards, used his body to shield off Chabot as he drove to the net and then made a slick pass across to Foote for the finish. Amazing effort, amazing skill, deadly combination. - The Devils' first goal was also the result of a Comets connection. Foote from Zetterlund and Reilly Walsh - all three have been key players all season long for Utica of the American Hockey League. And the assist to Walsh's first-career NHL point.

"When you look at it, Zetterlund was in on a play, Reilly was in on a play, Nolan Foote was in on a couple. A lot of young guys helped us get a point in tonight's game," Ruff said. "I can't say enough about what (Comets coach) Kevin (Dineen) and his staff have done to get these players ready for when they come up to play. All of these guys have been important for us."

- Speaking of Walsh, the defenseman picked up that first-career NHL point (assist) in his first-career NHL game. He seemed tentative and indecisive at first - which is to be expected. But looked stronger as the game went along. And you can see how good of a skater he is and glimpses of those offensive instincts and skills that have made him so effective in the AHL.

"For a first game, there's good, there's bad," Ruff said. "There were a few times his speed caught up to him, reading the rush a few times, which is a lot different than the AHL. He got his first-NHL assist, which was great. It helped us get on the board."

- Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood made his first start since Jan. 19. With all that time off, head coach Lindy Ruff said the game will be kind of like a preseason contest for him with a lot of rust and kinks to work through. That is how it appeared. Though he made some great saves - breakaway stops on Alex Formenton and Dylan Gambrell, he also allowed a goal to Tim Stutzle at the post that he'd like to have back. More importantly, he looked like he was able to move laterally well, an indication that the heel is much better (if not completely healed).

"Some good things, some bad things," Blackwood said. "With three months off and not a lot of practice coming back, there were some things that were good. My foot is feeling better. Obviously, some things that game time and practice I need to sharpen up. Overall, for my first one back in so long, it was all right."

"He gave us a chance to come back," Ruff said. "He gave us an opportunity to at least get points out of the hockey and a chance to win it ... It's been a long, tough road for him. There were times he looked real comfortable, and there were times when you get back in game situations it's a lot different than practice."

- The Devils posted 41 shots in the game, just two days after being held to a season-low (tied) 17 against Detroit on Sunday.

"I thought our energy in the game was a lot better," Ruff said. "We skated a lot better as a team. That turned into a lot more pressure, a lot more shots, a lot more opportunities."