Devils Win Final Home Game of Season in OT | GAME STORY

NEWARK, NJ - The Devils scored two shorthanded goals, including one in the third period to tie the game to force overtime, in a 4-3 OT victory at Prudential Center on Sunday night in the final home game of the season.

Nico Hischier won the game with a power-play goal, which was also his second goal of the game and 199th of his career.

:The game didn’t matter, but it matters," Hischier said. "It’s very important for us to finish the season strong. We’re not happy with where we’re at. We came up way short. Just give something back one last time to our fans is at least we can do. That was a good win."

“That was an incredible performance by our fans tonight,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Given where we’re at and how this season has gone, for them to be as engaged as they were in the game here today that helped our guys get to another level.

“The fans' passion in that third period shows how and why this is so important that we get this right and be a consistent playoff team. As much as I am thrilled for how it worked out tonight, I’m more so disappointed in where we’re at and that we won’t have more home games in this building in the playoffs.”

New Jersey mounted a 2-0 lead after the first period with goals from Hischier and a shorty from Connor Brown.

Ottawa owned the second period, scoring three goals from Michael Amadio, Shane Pinto (PP) and Fabian Zetterlund. The Sens also outshot New Jersey by a 16-5 count.

The Devils tied the game in the third on Dawson Mercer’s shorthanded goal.

"We played very good in the first period, but the second they just out-battled us, out-competed us," Hischier said. "We talked in (the locker room) about coming out with a little pride, play for the logo, play for the (fans) that showed up. That's what we did. We played a better third (period) and got a good win afterward."

Here are some observations from the game:

• Nico Hischier opened the scoring in the game by driving to the net, locating a free puck in the blue paint and jamming it home. The goal was his 27^th of the season and tied Jack Hughes for most on the team. The goal was the 198th of his career. 

• Dawson Mercer thought he had scored his 20^th goal of the season halfway through the first period. He drove to the net, found a juicy rebound and slammed it into the vacant net. However, following a coach’s challenge for offside, the goal was waved off. Timo Meier had the puck at the blue line and it crossed by about an inch to negate the tally. 

Mercer would have to wait another 30 minutes of game time before getting No. 20. In the third period, Mercer scored a shorthanded goal on a breakaway to tie the game at 3-3. It's Mercer's third 20-goal campaign. 

Keefe on Mercer: "Good to have him get to that marker. I think that's an important one for any offensive layer. They want to see you get that 2 in front of you."

• After the Mercer's first-period score was wiped out, Connor Brown reclaimed that 2-0 lead for the Devils by picking up a shorthanded tally late in the first period. Jack Hughes chipped the puck ahead on the PK with Brown racing up ice. Brown picked up the puck with speed for a breakaway. As Brown was getting ready to make a deke, Stephan Halliday stick checked him. Brown couldn’t make his move but the puck’s momentum carried it through the five-hole of a confused James Reimer. Without the stick check, Reimer may have been all over the puck. However, the move threw off the goalie and aided in the goal.

• Jack Hughes would have a somewhat similar situation of a no-goal situation. Halfway through the third, Reimer went to cover the puck with his glove. Before he could, the puck was knocked away and Hughes put it into the net. However, the referee anticipated it would be covered and blew the whistle, killing the play. So, the Hughes scored did not count. That would have tied the game at 3-3. 

• Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt continue to dominant since the Olympic break. In 24 games, Hughes has 15 goals and 41 points while Bratt has nine goals and 30 points.

• Nico Daws will get a look in the final two games of the season for New Jersey. He made his first start since October against Ottawa and made three crucial saves in the final minute of regulation to salvage the win. 

Daws: "Any time you're in this League it's fun to start with. Winning games is even better."

• Rookie Topias Vilen made his NHL debut against Ottawa. The 23-year-old Finnish rookie played 11:23 minutes of ice time and was a plus-1. 

Vilen: "I was excited for the whole day. Be around the guys and get a skate in this morning. It was a fun experience for sure. It was fun to play."

• With already earning a postseason berth, the Senators scratch many of their best players in the contest. Those that sat out included Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson.

• On another note, the game was the final of the Devils' "Jersey" jersey. It debut in December of 2021 and inspired the Hat hat, Pin pin and Shirt shirt.