Call-Ups Lead Devils to 5-2 Win Over Capitals | GAME STORY

NEWARK, N.J. - Three players who were skating with the Utica Comets earlier this week made their presence felt in New Jersey tonight.

Lenni Hameenaho, Vladislav Kolyachonok and Stefan Noesen all scored as the Devils turned a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals at Prudential Center.

"It's a Utica hat trick," Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe said with a laugh.

The trio had been producing in the American Hockey League before joining New Jersey's lineup, and their contributions proved pivotal in a game where the Devils needed offense from throughout the roster.

"You're not really necessarily expecting the offense and the pucks to go in the net," Keefe said. "Obviously, they've been playing very well in Utica, and they just kept it going here."

The Devils struck first with a power-play goal. Timo Meier sent a saucer pass through Arseny Gritsyuk's legs and across the ice to Evan Rodrigues at the right circle, who wired it past Logan Thompson in the Capitals net 2:20 into the game.

Washington netted a power-play goal of its own with 5:50 to go in the opening frame. Ryan Leonard got in behind the Devils defense and backhanded the puck in close past Hellebuyck.

After one period of play, shots on goal were 13-12 for the Devils. New Jersey had held an 8-1 advantage in shots at one point before Washington responded.

Pierre-Luc Dubois fired a shot from the right circle past Hellebuyck to put the Capitals in front 2-1 just 2:11 into the second period.

Midway through the second, the Devils tied the game. Brenden Dillon's shot from the left point went off Hameenaho in front and past Thompson to make it 2-2.

"Yeah, it wasn't a pretty one, but I'll take that every day of the week," Hameenaho said. "It was a good shot from Dilly, and I think it hit my glove and went in."

The goal came in Hameenaho's first NHL appearance of the season after he had been recalled from Utica the previous day.

"I think the start of the second period wasn't our best, but we got that one goal, and I felt like after that, we were getting better all the time," he said.

After 40 minutes, shots were 20-19 for the Capitals.

The Devils looked to have gone in front 10 seconds into a power play early in the third as the puck crossed the goal line following a wild scramble in the crease. After an officials' review, however, it was ruled that the puck had been directed into the net with a distinct kicking motion.

A few minutes after the disallowed goal, a shot from the right point by Kolyachonok had eyes, finding its way between the legs of Thompson to put the Devils in front 3-2 at 6:27 of the third. Noesen was in front to provide the screen.

For Kolyachonok, it was a memorable moment in his Devils debut, which also happened to be his third game in as many nights. He had suited up for Utica on both Tuesday and Wednesday before being recalled Thursday.

"I like to play, so I was actually pumped," Kolyachonok said of the demanding three-day stretch.

The defenseman had only arrived in New Jersey earlier in the day but was able to make an immediate impact alongside Dillon.

"That's pro hockey. You got to be ready every time," Kolyachonok said.

Noesen himself contributed on the fourth goal, backhanding the puck in on a breakaway with 2:53 to play.

The veteran forward had a humorous explanation for his finish.

"I just closed my eyes and I was out of breath at the end of that one," Noesen said. "That was probably the fastest I've skated in quite some time. So, yeah, sometimes you get lucky."

Jack Hughes added an empty-net goal with 45 seconds remaining to clinch the outcome.

Hellebuyck stopped 26 of 28 shots to improve to 6-0-0 since joining New Jersey, while the Devils finished with a 29-28 edge in shots.

For Noesen, the contributions from all three recalls demonstrated the depth available to New Jersey.

"We had a couple guys go down for injury, sickness, whatever's going on, and you got guys there that come back, come up and contribute the way we did," Noesen said. "I thought Lenny and I thought Kooley played really well as well. So, yeah, it's nice to see all the boys get rewarded a little bit."

Rodrigues, who finished with a goal and an assist, credited the team's patience after falling behind in the second period.

"We get down 2-1, and we don't force anything, we don't cheat, we don't try to create something out of nothing," Rodrigues said. "We just stick to our game and let our natural talent take over, and that's the way it's got to be."

Keefe acknowledged that it wasn't New Jersey's strongest performance, particularly coming off a demanding stretch of games, but was pleased with the result.

"It's not the prettiest game, but you got to find ways to win these ones," Keefe said. "It's not our best, but two points are hard to come by, so we're definitely going to take them."

Here are some observations from the game:

• It's been quite a three-day stretch for Vladislav Kolyachonok. The defenseman played for Utica on Tuesday in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, picking up an assist in a 4-0 win, before suiting up again Wednesday at home against Belleville in a 1-0 victory. Recalled by New Jersey on Thursday, Kolyachonok played his third game in three nights, this time in the NHL, and scored the go-ahead goal in his Devils debut. Three games, three wins, two leagues and a memorable first goal with New Jersey. Keefe also credited Kolyachonok for making the trip from Utica and arriving in time to contribute.

• The contributions from the three former Comets were perhaps even more remarkable considering their most recent game together in Utica. On Tuesday, Noesen and Hameenaho both scored in the Comets' 4-0 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, while Kolyachonok assisted on Xavier Parent's goal. Two nights later, all three had made the jump to the NHL and found the back of the net in New Jersey's victory.

• Noesen offered some candid perspective on the personal challenges of moving between the NHL and AHL this season. While he described the adjustments as part of the business of professional hockey, he said the situation has been particularly difficult for his family. Noesen credited his wife for managing the uncertainty and the challenges of having him away from home, including the difficult questions from their children about where their father is. "There are things bigger than hockey," Noesen said. "But at the end of the day, it's work and you got to put your head down and just do your job."

• Hameenaho's goal came after an excellent start to his season in Utica, where he had recorded six goals and nine points in 11 games. Keefe said he had no hesitation putting the 22-year-old into the lineup and specifically wanted to reunite him with Cody Glass, given the chemistry the two had developed previously. Glass assisted on Hameenaho's goal. Noesen also praised the young forward's hockey sense, saying that while his offensive abilities are well known, the smaller details of his game can sometimes be overlooked.

• Evan Rodrigues has become an important voice in the Devils' dressing room, particularly when it comes to defensive responsibility. Rodrigues said he's been emphasizing the importance of not cheating for offense and allowing the game to develop naturally. He feels that commitment is becoming a habit among his teammates. Keefe agreed, calling Rodrigues a major driver of the message and suggesting he might be the loudest voice reinforcing it. The coach added that Rodrigues' experience and personality help the group manage difficult moments during games, sometimes simply by keeping things light on the bench.

• Keefe had particularly high praise for Brenden Dillon following the game. With Brett Pesce and Johnathan Kovacevic unavailable, Dillon took on an important role and assisted on Hameenaho's tying goal. Keefe suggested it might have been Dillon's best game of the season, praising his competitiveness and the leadership he provides away from the ice. The coach acknowledged that it hasn't been easy for the veteran to sit out games, but credited him for recognizing his opportunity and making the most of it tonight.

• Rodrigues' opening power-play goal was an encouraging development for a Devils unit that Keefe had challenged earlier in the day. The forward suggested afterward that New Jersey's abundance of skill can occasionally lead to trying to make plays that are too elaborate. "I think we just got to shoot more. It's simple as that," Rodrigues said, comparing the approach to basketball, where shooters sometimes have to keep shooting their way through difficult stretches. Keefe liked the directness of the first power-play opportunity, particularly the willingness to get pucks to the net before Rodrigues eventually converted.

• Hellebuyck improved to 6-0-0 in his first six starts with New Jersey, continuing a franchise-record winning start to his Devils career. He made 26 saves tonight after sitting out Tuesday's game in Winnipeg. Rodrigues said the presence of Hellebuyck gives the team's defensemen added confidence to step up and keep plays alive at the blue line, knowing the goaltender is capable of making a save if something goes wrong behind them.

• New Jersey's victory extended its home winning streak to seven games, tied for the fifth-longest such run in franchise history, including the organization's years as the Kansas City Scouts and Colorado Rockies. The Devils have won six of their past seven games overall and will have another opportunity to collect two points against Washington when the teams meet again Saturday.