Devils Dethrone Kings | GAME STORY

NEWARK, N.J. - The Devils grinded out a 3-1 win against Los Angeles at Prudential Center on Saturday afternoon.

Anthony Mantha and Brett Pesce gave New Jersey a 2-1 lead. Arseny Gritsyuk extended his goal scoring streak to five games with an empty-netter.

"We realize now that we don't always need to score six, seven goals. Just win games like that," captain Nico Hischier said. "Tight game, 2-1 in the third and empty-netter to close it out. Those games are also two points and hopefully many more to come like that."

"It was a very mature game," head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "A very clean and efficient night. Maybe not our best in some ways, but that's the kind of game you want to have if you're not going to be at your best."

The Devils swept their three-game homestand and have won five of their last six games. 

"It's been a really good week," Keefe said. "Guys have really bought in and really pulled together and just played solid hockey. We've won in different ways but the recipe, foundation has been the same. Let's bottle this up and take it on the road."

Scott Laughton had the lone Kings’ goal.

Here are some observations from the game:

• It wasn't a pretty for exciting game. The Kings shutdown the neutral zone and both sides were waiting for the other side to crack. The Devils held LA to just 13 shots in the contest to pull out the win with a great commitment to defense.

Hischier: "They were aware of our rush game. In the first period they were all back and we tried to many plays in the middle. In the second we went low, circled up, had some O zone shifts and that's where we were able to hem them down a bit." 

Pesce: "That's a veteran team. They know how to play the game the right way. We knew they weren't going to beat themselves. Sometimes it's an ugly game. It's not a fun game. It's boring and it's which team will crack first. ... Good teams find ways to win gritty, boring games."

• Brett Pesce scored his first goal of the season in the third period to give New Jersey a 2-1 lead. He took the puck above the circles, waited, toe dragged, waited, and then ripped a shot glove side and into the net for the tally. It was his first goal since Dec. 23, 2025 against the NY Islanders.

• The Devils did everything they could to solve goaltender Anton Forsberg in the first two periods, but he proved difficult. He made a split pad save on Jack Hughes for his best stop. But the best stop overall came from Kings forward Joel Armia. The Devils were on a power play when Luke Evangelista wrapped a puck around Forsberg and sent it toward and open cage. But Armia threw his stick down in the crease and intercepted the puck like it was a pass and quickly thrusted it out of danger.

• The Devils finally broke through on Forsberg late in the second period when Anthony Mantha sniped a shot from the left dot into the far top corner. The puck snared off the post and in with a loud bang. It was the third goal of the season for Mantha. 

• It was a great shot from Mantha, but also defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler provided the net-front presence that blocked the vision of Forsberg. Mantha was partially the reason Siegenthaler was in front. When Dougie Hamilton pinched into the right wall to maintain possession, Mantha reloaded into a D spot. As Hamilton returned to his spot, Mantha rotated into Siegenthaler’s position, so he decided to dip into the offensive zone and found himself in front of the net.

• The Devils were forced to kill a penalty with 7:01 remaining in the third period and leading by a goal. It was a crucial kill to preserve the 2-1 lead. New Jersey was successful in a big moment in the game.