Hughes Tallies, Palat Scores Two in Win Over Islanders | GAME STORY

The New Jersey Devils skated into UBS Arena with a mission to pick up a second consecutive victory and from the moment the puck dropped against the Islanders, the Devils were on a roll.
The club dominated the first period, giving up only three shots to the Islanders while piling on 13 of their own.
But it wasn't until the second period that the Devils broke through with goals by Jack Hughes and Ondrej Palat to take a 2-0 lead. Nearing the end of the third period, Palat would score again and Nico Hischier would tally the empty-netter. The Devils winning 4-1 over the Islanders.
The line of Palat, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt had a combined seven points against the Islanders.
Mackenzie Blackwood made the saves when they were needed, including a few jaw-droppers, like a cross-ice save on J.G. Pageau in the third period, the Islanders breaking through for the first time at 16:44 of the third.
Blackwood and the Devils post a second consecutive victory with a 4-1 win over the Islanders.

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WHAT'S NEXT
The Devils are back home for an afternoon matchup with the San Jose Sharks. Catch the game on MSG and hear it on the Devils Hockey Network, including right here at NewJerseyDevils.com. Puck drop is 1:08 p.m. ET.
If you're going to Saturday afternoon's game against the San Jose Sharks,
tickets are still available!
Here are some observations from the game...
- With the decision to go with eleven forwards and seven defensemen, Alexander Holtz sat out as a healthy scratch. One of the reasons for this decision, as described by head coach Lindy Ruff, was the need to better access the team speed.

"We just wanted more speed, you know I've said pace, his pace is getting better, he's a great kid, he's working hard at it, but we just tried to stay with as much pace as we could in the game."

And speed was one of the primary reasons the Devils were able to stay on top of the Islanders.

"It just seemed like we were a step ahead, and when you're a step ahead you get the puck most of the time."