Nico Hischier's late power play goal gives Devils 5-4 win | GAME STORY

WASHINGTON, DC - Nico Hischier scored a power play goal with 1:12 remaining in the game to lift the Devils to a 5-4 comeback win over the Washington Capitals.
Jack Hughes, Dawson Mercer, Alex Holtz and Yegor Sharangovich scored for New Jersey while Nico Daws stopped all 10 shots he faced in the third.

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New Jersey returns home to play their first preseason game at Prudential Center in over two years. 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.
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With the Devils trailing 4-3 to enter the third period, Dawson Mercer fired a shot from a tough angle that bounced off Samsonov and in to make it a 4-4 game early in the final frame.
"There was a couple opportunities and I was happy to capitalize on that last one," stated Mercer, adding that he was thrilled to wear a Devils uniform in a preseason game for the first time. "It's pretty special. It was an unbelievable feeling stepping onto the ice for the first time."
With just over three minutes to go in the third, Nolan Foote took a penalty. Devils penalty killers did a great job holding the Caps at bay and midway through the Washington man advantage, Alex Alexeyev was sent off for high-sticking Mercer.
Moments after the Foote penalty expired, Nico Hischier scored a power play goal to put the Devils up 5-4 with 1:12 remaining in the game.
Shots on goal after three periods was 27-23 for the Caps with another Nico -- Daws, that is, stopping all 10 shots he faced to earn the win.
"I was expecting to be a little more nervous," noted Daws who also stopped all four shooters he faced in the post-game shootout demonstration including Alex Ovechkin. "I've come off the bench a few times before, it's nothing new to me."
Devils head coach Lindy Ruff was very impressed with the team's overall play on what was a young roster that the club brought to D.C.
"I thought we skated really well. Created chances. Three, four breakaways with speed. There was a lot to like about how we played," Ruff began.
"They get down and come back and win the game in the third period. Tells you a lot about the compete the team had."
The Devils got on the board early in the contest. Just over five minutes into the game, Yegor Sharangovich snuck in behind the Capitals defense and used his speed to create some separation. He deked before lifting a backhand over Washington starting goaltender Zach Fucale.
Less than a minute later, the Caps' Anthony Mantha took a hooking penalty to give the Devils power play a chance to extend the lead. With 1:08 left in the Mantha penalty, Washington took a bench minor for too many men to give New Jersey a two-man advantage.
Washington killed off the Mantha penalty and then with 18 seconds left in the bench minor, scored a shorthanded goal to tie the game. John Carlson stripped the puck at the Caps blueline, creating a two-on-one rush through the neutral zone. Carlson elected to shoot and beat Devils netminder Jonathan Bernier to make it 1-1.
Devils had another power play chance with 7:53 to go in the first as Alex Jonsson-Fjallby was called for tripping.

After one period, shots on goal were even at 8-8.
Jack Hughes put the Devils back in front 45 seconds into the middle frame. He stripped Michal Kempny of the puck and quickly roofed a backhander under the bar to make it 2-1 for the visitors.
Hughes and his line went back on the attack right after the face-off. Fucale had to make a nice stop at point-blank range off Sharangovich to keep it a one-goal game.
Dawson Mercer was called for tripping with 17:19 to go in the second, giving the Caps their first power play of the game.
Thirty-four seconds into the man advantage, Washington capitalized. John Carlson ripped a shot from the point that Bernier got a piece of but not all of it as it hopped into the net.
Devils went right back to the box as Nikita Okhotiuk was called for hooking shortly after the game-tying marker but they were able to kill that one off.
Three minutes later, Nick Jensen was called for delay of game to put the Devils power play back to work.
Shots on goal midway through the period were 12-11 for the Devils.
Shortly after the Caps penalty expired, Dawson Mercer had a breakaway and elected to shoot five-hole but Fucale made a nice stop to keep the game tied.
With 7:27 to play in the second, Alex Holtz scored to put the Devils up 3-2. Skating in on a two-on-one with Hughes, Holtz used Hughes as a decoy to perfection before lasering a seeing-eye shot over the shoulder of Fucale.
"I really liked the way the kids played. They competed hard. Both guys scored a goal. It's good to see because those guys are going to be the future of the team," said Ruff. "(Holtz is) one guy that can put the puck in a real tight spot. He's hit that mark a lot of times. Not many guys can do that on a consistent basis but he's got a special shot."
Holtz was asked about not deferring to Hughes on the play.
"We had a close play just before, we had a two-on-one. I thought I'd trust my shot this time and it worked this time. Maybe next time I'm passing to him," Hotlz said.
The Swedish winger, who played with Hughes and Sharangovich and generated a lot of chances, talked about his first preseason opportunity.
"I felt really good out there today. I'm getting more comfortable out there today. Trying to gain that confidence and playing my game out there."
Less than 30 seconds after the Holtz goal, Washington scored to tie the game once again. Hendrix Lapierre sprung T.J. Oshie on a breakaway and Oshie made no mistake, deking out Bernier to knot the game at 3-3.
A penalty late in the period to Holtz gave the Caps power play a chance to break the deadlock. Twenty-seven seconds into the man advantage, Washington scored to make it 4-3. Mike Vecchione whacked at the puck from the hashmarks, beating a screened Bernier through the five-hole.
Shots after 40 minutes were 17-15 for the Caps.
Daws replaced Bernier in goal to start the third period while Ilya Samsonov replaced Fucale.
NOTE: After the game, as per NHL shootout rules this year the teams can elect to take part in a shootout. Alex Holtz was the only player on either side to score in what was a four-round shootout.