GAME STORY: Devils 2, Sharks 1

NEWARK, NJ -The Devils won their third straight game at home as they beat the Sharks 2-1. The Sharks opened the scoring but the Devils responded with two un-answered goals to get the win.
"I just felt we got better as the game went on. Hayden had a lot to do with it you know with the fight," said Devils Interim Head Coach Alain Nasreddine. "So that brought some emotion to the game and to our team. And again [Blackwood] with some big saves when it was one-nothing to keep it tight. In the end we found a way."
A P.K. Subban power play goal three minutes into the third period was the game winner for the Devils.
"I'm happy to contribute in a way that helps our team win," said Subban. "I want meaningful points, and to produce when the game's is on the line and things matter."
Jesper Bratt had the Devils first goal in the second period, tying the game at 1. Bratt returned to the lineup after he was scratched in the Devils game against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
"It was a good response. Great play from our breakout, and then the stretch pass by [Zacha], and a great finish," said Nasreddine. "[Bratt] has that move in his bag, sometimes he comes up short in just burying the shot, but he did a great job. That speed he's got was able to create separation to get that breakaway and really nice goal."

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POST-GAME REPORT | Amanda Stein wraps up the game
POST-GAME RAW | Blackwood
POST-GAME RAW | Subban
POST-GAME RAW | Devils interim head coach Alain Nasreddine
WHAT'S NEXT
New Jersey host the Washington Capitals for a 1 p.m. ET game at Prudential Center. The game can be seen on MSG+ and heard on the Devils Hockey Network, including right here at NewJerseyDevils.com. Puck drop is 1:08 p.m. ET.
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Tickets still available
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Mackenzie Blackwood's strong play in net increased his win streak to five straight games, and was his 30th career NHL win.
"If you said in a year 'you'll have 30 career wins' I mean I would be ecstatic," said Blackwood following the game. "I mean I don't know if I would have believed you but, it's great. It's been fun, it's been a process, coming to the rink every day working on your game, trying to get better. And just enjoying it. It's been good so far."
San Jose got on the board first when a screened wrist shot from the point by Tim Heed hit a Devils skater in front of the net and beat a screened Mackenzie Blackwood almost eight minutes into the game.
Off the draw after the goal, John Hayden and Jacob Middleton dropped the gloves for a spirited bout. Devils ended up getting a power play as Middleton got called for unsportsmanlike conduct for removing his helmet in a fight.
P.K. Subban said following the game that Hayden's fight brought energy to the team.
"We've got a young team so when we get momentum going, you can see it within in our group," said Subban. "Credit to [Hayden] for getting us going."
Devils were unable to score on the man advantage but received another late in the period.
With the Sharks pressing in the Devils zone in the period's final 20 seconds, Stefan Noesen tripped up Kevin Rooney with the Devils forward racing to the puck to clear it out of the zone. Result was the second Devils power play of the game.
Shots on goal after one were 12-7 for the Sharks.
Devils started the period on a power play but halfway through Wayne Simmonds was called for interference. The teams played 4-on-4 hockey for 1:01. Neither team was able to score during their power plays and play went back to even strength.
The Devils were able to keep the Sharks off the board during the visitor's power plays in the middle of the period. Mackenzie Blackwood stood strong in net, stopping several solid chances from the Sharks, including a shot from Brent Burns, the Sharks leading scorer with 12:40 on the clock. The Devils defense also continued to step up, blocking multiple shots on the penalty kills.
The Devils had a man-advantage for three minutes and 14 seconds including a 5-on-3 advantage for 47 seconds in the second period. The Sharks penalty kill was able to kill off both Devils power plays, showing why they are the top-ranked penalty kill in the league.
New Jersey got on the board with 3:45 left in the second period when Jesper Bratt scored his twelfth goal of the season. Nikita Gusev got the puck in the corner, passed up to Pavel Zacha who found Bratt up ice. Bratt, one-on-one with Martin Jones, beat the Sharks goaltender to tie the game at 1.
In the final 1:30 of the period, Micro Mueller was called for interference, putting the Devils on the penalty kill in the final minutes of the period.
The Sharks held a 26-17 shot advantage after two periods.
The Devils killed off the penalty at the start of the third period, and play went back to even strength. The Sharks were called for their second delay of game call with 18:54 on the clock and the Devils went on the power play for the fifth time.
On the power play, three minutes into the third, PK Subban scored to give the Devils their first lead of the game. Miles Wood's strong screen on the Sharks goaltender helped Subban beat Jones top shelf.
Blackwood continued to be strong throughout the third period, including with a huge save on Radim Simek's wrister with five minutes left in the period. With just over three minutes left in the period, the Sharks were called for goaltender interference and the Devils went back on the power play for the sixth time. The Devils were unable to increase their lead and ended the night 1 for 6 on the man advantage.
The Sharks pulled their goaltender in the final minute of the game, but it was not enough, as the Devils kept the Sharks from scoring, taking the 2-1 win. Mackenzie Blackwood finished with 36 saves on the night. When asked after the game on how he was able to get his 30th career win, Blackwood gave credit to his equipment.
"Today I put new laces in my skates," Blackwood joked. "I think as of late, it's been fortunate that we've been getting the results."
"Some days the results are good, some days the results are bad, but the process is the same," said Blackwood.
The Sharks will host the Devils next Thursday for the second and final meeting between these teams this season. Up next for the Devils, New Jersey will host the Washington Capitals on Saturday.