GAME STORY: Devils 2, Islanders 0

After falling 4-1 on Long Island on Thursday, the Devils rebounded with a 2-0 win to split their home and home series with the Islanders. Jack Hughes opened the scoring and Pavel Zacha scored his first goal of the season. Wedgewood stopped all 28 shots he faced in the Devils win.
"It was a big game all around. We wanted to match what they brought to us the other night," said Wedgewood. "It feels like I've traveled the world before coming back here to get back in the National Hockey League so it's definitely nice to get a win."
"He made the saves when the big opportunities were there, he fought his way through traffic, but again I think it led from him having a good camp," said Devils Head Coach Lindy Ruff on Wedgewood's performance.

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GAME DAY
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POST-GAME
Highlights
Post-Game Report - Amanda Stein Wraps Up the Game
Post-Game - Smith
Post-Game - Wedgewood
Devils head coach Lindy Ruff Post-Game
WHAT'S NEXT
New Jersey hosts the Philadelphia Flyers for two straight games, starting Tuesday. Tuesday's game is on MSG + and can be heard on the Devils Hockey Network, including right here at NewJerseyDevils.com. Puck drop is 7:08 p.m. ET.
With the primary assist on Hughes's goal, Ty Smith increased his points streak to five games. Smith ties Harry Cameron, Hap Day, Larry Murphy and Cale Makar for the second longest pint streak to start a career for all NHL defensemen.
"It helps to get those points and help us create offense, but at the same time I think I need to continue to improve defensively and continue to get stronger to handle these men that I play against, that we play every night," said Smith. "I guess that's kind of the goal right now, is to keep contributing as much as possible offensively and continue to work on [defense]."
The Devils had their first close opportunity about five minutes into the first period. Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorkin stood strong against several consecutive Devils shots right on the doorstep. Then less than three minutes later the Devils penalty kill got its first minutes of the night after Severson was sent to the box for a minor penalty. Although the Islanders put five shots on net during the man-advantage, the Devils stood strong and Scott Wedgewood denied the visiting team each opportunity.
The Devils had their best offensive chance of the period when the line of Miles Wood, Janne Kuokkanen and Travis Zajac drove to the net off the rush. Wood had a shot right on top of Sorkin but was pushed down before he could get the puck past the goal line.
With less than five minutes left in the period, Wedgewood came up big for the Devils again, keeping a sharp shooting Islanders team from getting the opening goal. Wedgewood stopped all ten shots he faced in the first twenty minutes.
The Devils had their first power play of the night about three and a half minutes in. Ty Smith has some powerful shots early on in the Devils first possession of the period. Following a flurry of shots Jack Hughes scores to make it 1-0 Devils on the power play. This was the forward's third goal of the season and seventh point of the season. Ty Smith had the primary assist to extend his points streak to five straight games. Kyle Palmieri had the secondary assist on the goal.

Then with less than a minute left in the period, Pavel Zacha scored his first goal of the season after he converted on the rebound of Nikita Gusev's shot.

At the end of the first period, the home team had a 2-0 lead after the Devils outshot the Islanders 12-10.
The Devils had their second power play of the night three and a half minutes into the second period when the Islanders were called for goaltender interference. The Devils started their power play off strong with consistent possession time and saw some solid cycling and passing throughout the final minute.
New Jersey looked stronger offensively in the second period and continued to outshoot the Islanders, something they struggled with on Thursday against New York. With five minutes left in the second, the Devils had a 17-14 advantage with shots on net.
At the end of the second period, the Devils maintained their two goal lead and kept the Islanders off the board. Wedgewood stopped all 16 shots he faced through forty and the Devils had 20 shots on net.
The Devils saw several moments of threatening chances on goal but were unable to find consistent offense in the first six minutes of the period, however, they still were leading in shots 22-18 with 14 minutes on the clock.
Janne Kuokkanen was sent to the box with 5:49 left in the game as the Devils penalty kill had their second shift of the night. The Devils penalty kill delivered, keeping the Islanders from scoring and kept the visitors from registering a single shot on net during the man-advantage.
The Islanders pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker in the final two minutes of the game but Scott Wedgewood and the Devils defense stayed strong and kept the Islanders from scoring.
Forward Jack Hughes and Ty Smith have build a lot of chemistry off the ice that has translated on the ice.
"Living together I think it's brought us pretty close, hanging out every day," said Smith. "Whenever we get out there together it's pretty fun to play with a guy like that. Obviously he's got tons of skill and speed and creativity and he makes plays and scores goals so it's pretty easy to play with a guy like that."
"What I see is two kids who are having a lot of fun playing," said Ruff on the duo of Smith and Hughes. "I like the compete of both young kids. Jack's competed tight, I thought he was very good tonight. Ty's vision, his quickness, his deception on the power play led to Jack's goal."
Devils goaltender Scott Wedgewood stopped all shots he faced and recorded his third career NHL shutout. The netminder views his confidence as one of his biggest improvements over the last few years.
"Honestly the biggest one is confidence," said Wedgewood. "I think now I take up more net, presenting myself a little bit bigger and just being more patient."
"As I've kind of grown up and understand my role, you know case and point it's been three years since I've been here, it's just now that I'm here I want to seize it."
To make the win even sweeter, Wedgewood got the victory on his mom, Brenda's, birthday.
The Devils get their third win in the fifth game of the season. Up next, the Devils host the Philadelphia Flyers for two games, Tuesday and Thursday, before traveling to Buffalo to face the Sabres on Saturday and Sunday.