Hischier scores in OT, lifts Devils past Predators

NEWARK, N.J. -- Nico Hischier scored 42 seconds into overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators at Prudential Center on Thursday.

Hischier converted on a slap shot from the top of the left face-off circle after taking a pass from Dawson Mercer in the neutral zone.

"We just got the puck back, so I think that's a risky shot, but I saw the [defense] wasn't really gapping up on me and luckily it went in," Hischier said. "If it didn't, the coach wouldn't be happy at all."

Said New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe: "You don't love shots from distance like that, but he got inside the circle and knew what he was doing. I kind of made a bit of a video game reference that I felt like he was hanging onto the button real long to load up on that one. But he put some anger into it too, which was nice."

Dougie Hamilton scored to extend his point streak to nine games, and Jesper Bratt also scored for the Devils (28-24-2), who had lost two straight after winning five of six. Jacob Markstrom made 27 saves.

New Jersey center Jack Hughes, who is on the Team USA roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, totaled 2:27 of ice time before exiting the game with a lower-body injury at 8:27 of the first period following a 56-second shift.

"He tweaked something in the game, but I guess the update is we don't believe it's a serious thing at this point," Keefe said. "In terms of length of time or his availability for our road trip against Ottawa (on Saturday), we'll determine that [Friday]."

Filip Forsberg and Michael McCarron scored for the Predators (24-23-6), who are 1-3-2 in their past six games. Justus Annunen made 32 saves.

"That's a tough pill to swallow ... we had the lead in the third," McCarron said. "It's a struggle to get that extra point right now. I feel like we played better tonight than we did in (a 3-2 overtime loss at the Boston Bruins on Tuesday)."

McCarron gave Nashville a 1-0 lead at 5:07 of the first period, scoring on a rebound from the slot.

"I was just going to the net hard and put my stick on the ice and it just hit my stick," McCarron said. "We had to get to the net harder, which was really only one of a couple shifts that we had as a line where we went to the net hard and got rewarded. We got to do more of that, especially my line."

Hamilton tied it 1-1 at 10:01 of the second period on a snap shot from the right circle. He has two goals and nine assists during his point streak.

Forsberg gave the Predators a 2-1 lead at 1:34 of the third period on a one-timer from low in the left circle off a pass from the point by Adam Wilsby.

"I think we had a couple moments in the game where we played great, and then moments where we're allowing them kind of back into it," Forsberg said. "It's good that we're getting points, but we need the two points."

Bratt then tied it 2-2 at 10:42 when he scored an unassisted goal from the left post with Annunen sprawled on the ice.

"We talked when it was 1-1 going into the third ... we wanted to come out strong and they got the 2-1 goal," Markstrom said. "Our response from that was great. 'Bratter' is clutch when he gets opportunities like that and then our captain takes charge and gets two points for us."

NOTES: Forsberg scored his 20th goal of the season to become the sixth Sweden-born player in NHL history with at least 10 career 20-goal seasons. ... Hischier scored his eighth career overtime goal to tie Scott Niedermayer for the third most in Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts history. He trails only Patrik Elias (16) and Jack Hughes (nine). ... Devils rookie forward Arseny Gritsyuk, who had an assist, has five points (one goal, four assists) in his past five games. ... New Jersey has gone 17-for-17 on the penalty kill over its past seven games after going 2-for-2 on Thursday. … Maxim Tsyplakov had no shots on goal and five hits in 8:18 of ice time in his Devils debut. New Jersey acquired the 27-year-old forward from the New York Islanders on Tuesday for forward Ondrej Palat, a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.