Schneider helps Devils hold off Avalanche

DENVER --Jesper Bratt had a goal and an assist to help the New Jersey Devils open a three-game road trip with a 2-1 win against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center on Friday.
Brian Boyle broke a 1-1 tie at 6:11 of the third period, and Cory Schneider made 22 saves for the Devils (15-6-4), who are 4-1-1 in their past six games and 10-1-4 in one-goal games.

WATCH: [All Devils vs. Avalanche highlights]
"It's nice that we can find a way to win these games," Devils coach John Hynes said. "I've said all along when you are in a lot of those one-goal games and you find a way to win them, it's good lessons."
J.T. Compher scored for the Avalanche (12-10-2), who are 1-2-0 in the first three games of a five-game homestand.
Boyle scored on a power play to give the Devils a 2-1 lead. Bratt skated by Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov and passed to Taylor Hall, whose shot went off goalie Semyon Varlamov's glove. Boyle slid the puck under Varlamov's right pad during a goalmouth scramble for his fourth goal.
"I tried to go high at first and then he lifted his pad up, so I just tried to jam it in," Boyle said. "It was nice that it went in. Especially quick plays like that you just want to get a good piece of the puck and fortunately for me I did. It felt good to be on that power play. It's a lot of responsibility; you have to contribute.

"It's hard to score in this league and when you get a lead you should definitely hold onto it. Early in the season it seems there are always two or three lead changes. No lead is safe it seems and then you settle into your systems."
The Devils took a 1-0 lead at 13:58 of the second period when Bratt took advantage of a giveaway by Zadorov.
Varlamov left the puck behind the net for Zadorov, who inadvertently passed to Bratt at the bottom of the left circle for a quick shot inside the near post for his eighth goal and second in two games.
"Cost us the game," Zadorov said. "I think I made a bad play on the second goal as well. I'm taking all the responsibility, it's on me. I can't make those plays, I got to double check. I saw one guy dump it in and [Bratt] came from the other side of the net. I thought that guy might change, but he didn't."
Said Avalanche coach Jared Bednar: "Guys make mistakes all over the ice, that just happened to be a glaring one."
Bratt was more than happy to accept the unexpected gift.
"I think he just did a blind pass, maybe thinking I was going for a line change or something," Bratt said. "I was lucky to get it. All the games are about grinding and compete. You can't always play a skill game."
The Avalanche tied it 1-1 on Compher's power-play goal at 7:11. Alex Kerfoot took a shot from the right circle that Devils defenseman Andy Greene blocked, and Compher shot the loose puck past Schneider for his fourth goal.
"It just came to me off a block," Compher said. "Our focus is trying to get pucks on net. It was a good job by Mikko (Rantanen) to screen the goalie and we were able to get one."

Goal of the game

Bratt converts Zadorov's giveaway at 13:58 of the second period.

Save of the game

Schneider stops Carl Soderberg with 33 seconds left in the third period.

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Highlight of the game

Boyle's game-winner at 6:11 of the third period.

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They said it

"It was very exciting and a fun game to play. It's a little bit different but I tried not to think too much and play my game. We got the victory, so it's a great way to start." -- Devils defenseman Sami Vatanen, who played a team-high 23:13 in his first game following his trade from the Anaheim Ducks
"He's a big-time difference-maker. You say that about guys, but he's really effective in all situations. His gap was great, he was physical, he was making passes, good plays, he's got the offensive knack. He's a coveted type of defenseman and we've got him." -- Devils forward Brian Boyle on Vatanen
"We had a great second period. Hated our first, stood around and weren't physical. They outskated us, outworked us, so we addressed it after the first and I thought we responded. The second period was probably our most physical period in a couple weeks, maybe three weeks." -- Avalanche coach Jared Bednar

Need to know

The Devils are 9-2-2 on the road and ended a six-game losing streak (0-4-2) at Pepsi Center. The previous win, 4-2, came March 15, 2008. ... The Avalanche are 8-3-1 at home. ... The Devils were 1-for-6 on power plays, the Avalanche 1-for-5.

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What's next

Devils: At the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; FS-A, MSG+, NHL.TV)
Avalanche: Host the Dallas Stars on Sunday (8 p.m. ET; ALT, FS-SW, NHL.TV)