Devils Succumb to Predators, 6-4, in Rare Road Loss | GAME STORY

Without the heroics of Mackenzie Blackwood in the first period, the Devils may have been out of the game before the first 20 minutes. His play, making 21 saves on 23 shots, in the first period alone allowed the Devils to enter the second period with a 2-2 tie against the Nashville Predators.
From there, the Devils and Predators would once again trade goals, Nashville tying the game on three separate occasions before taking their first - and only - lead of the game at 8:49 of the third period. Matt Duchene skated up the wing with Nikita Okhotiuk trailing and tapped in his own rebound after Blackwood made the initial save on the shot.

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The Devils play their final game before the All-Star Break Friday night in Dallas. The Devils visist the Stars at 8:30 p.m. ET.
The loss comes on the heels of a game where the defensive structure was lacking, offering up too many odd-men rushes to the Predators and relying far too heavily on their goaltender to make stops on breakaways.
"We didn't deserve to win that game," captain Nico Hischier said post-game, "We give them that many odd-man rushes and that many breakaways, you're doing something wrong. It's that simple."
"We were sloppy," defenseman Ryan Graves added, "just bad in that area tonight. Not sure exactly what it is, just sloppy play and that can't happen."
Jesper Bratt and Yegor Sharangovich scored in the first period and Jack Hughes added his 31st of the season in the second in the 6-4 loss.
It's an unusual feeling for the Devils who lost on the road in regulation for just the third time this season.
Here are some observations from the game...

• The Devils were able to better manage the game in the second, compared to the first, giving up just 10 shots to the Predators, nearly half of what Blackwood faced in the first.
• Dougie has been taking care of business this season:

A two-assist night for Dougie Hamilton brings his season point total up to 44. It's the highest point total Hamilton has had since the 2017-18 season when he was still a member of the Calgary Flames.