Hall ties Devils record in win against Penguins

PITTSBURGH -- Taylor Hall extended his point streak to 15 games to tie a New Jersey Devils record in a 3-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday.
The streak, the longest in the NHL this season, equaled the record set by Patrik Elias in 1999-2000 and matched by Brian Gionta in 2005-06. Hall had a secondary assist on a goal from Kyle Palmieri in the first period before scoring his 27th goal, which tied his NHL career high from 2011-12 and 2013-14, in the second.

Hall has 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) during his streak. He has 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) while scoring at least one point in 22 straight games, a stretch that was interrupted when he missed three games with a right hand/thumb injury from Jan. 22-25.
WATCH: [All Devils vs. Penguins highlights]
"First period, I probably touched the puck five or six times and I get a secondary assist in the neutral zone. It's the way it's going," Hall said. "Personally, I thought I had a strong game after that. You score points in 22 straight games, there has to be some luck involved. … It's a good feeling to just contribute.
"We're in the middle of a playoff run and games are important. So, I'm happy that I'm able to do my part."

Stefan Noesen gave the Devils a 3-2 lead at 5:01 of the third period in his 100th NHL game by deflecting a shot from Andy Greene past Casey DeSmith, who started for the Penguins after Matt Murray sustained a concussion during practice Monday.
Noesen said Hall's recent surge has motivated him.
"He's a different beast right now," Noesen said. "I don't get it. It's crazy. I don't even know how many games that is in a row, but he just seems to have a knack for it right now. You see a guy like that night in and night out, and really driving our team, being the leader that he is and the type of guy he is.
"You always want to be around him and anytime you see a guy like that, it helps the team the way he's helping us right now and carrying us. It pushes everyone to play for him."

Keith Kinkaid made 36 saves for New Jersey (33-22-8), which is five points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, and two points behind third-place Pittsburgh (36-24-4) in the Metropolitan Division.
DeSmith made 35 saves for the Penguins, whose home winning streak ended at 11 games.
Derick Brassard made his Penguins debut and had two shots on goal and four hits in 16:58. He was acquired from the Ottawa Senators in a three-team trade with the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday.
"It's going to take me a couple games to get a feel for it and a feel for my linemates," Brassard said. "I had those butterflies in the first. I was kind of nervous, which is part of the excitement of being here. But after a couple shifts, I was in the game."

Sidney Crosby gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead at 8:17 of the first period by wrapping a rebound around Kinkaid's right pad for his 21st goal of the season.
The goal was upheld after New Jersey challenged for goaltender interference before Palmieri tied it 1-1 at 12:19.
Hall gave the Devils a 2-1 lead on the power play one second after Damon Severson shot off the left post in the second period. The puck bounced to Hall above the goal line, where he scored on a sharp-angle shot at 4:25.
Matt Hunwick tied it 2-2 by tipping a pass from Jake Guentzel past Kinkaid at 17:02.

Goal of the game

Noesen's goal at 5:01 of the third period.

Save of the game

Kinkaid's save on Riley Sheahan at 11:57 of the third period.

Highlight of the game

Hall's goal at 4:25 of the second period.

They said it

"I thought it was a heck of a game by both teams. They had some looks. We had some looks. I thought the tempo was good. Both teams competed very hard. We were fortunate to find a way to win the game." -- Devils coach John Hynes
"I thought [Brassard] was pretty good. … I thought for his first game he had good energy. He made some plays. I think he'll only get better moving forward." -- Penguins coach Mike Sullivan

Need to know

Forward Pat Maroon did not make his Devils debut after being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers on Monday for a third-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and forward J.D. Dudek. Maroon is expected to play against the Florida Panthers on Thursday. … Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin extended his NHL career-long point streak to four games (one goal, three assists) with an assist on Crosby's goal. … Hall is the fifth NHL player in the past 25 years with points in 22 straight appearances, behind Mats Sundin (Quebec Nordiques, 1992-93, 30 games), Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks, 2015-16, 26), Crosby (2010-11, 25) and Dany Heatley (Ottawa Senators, 2005-6, 22).

What's next

Devils:At the Panthers on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; FS-F, MSG+, NHL.TV)
Penguins:At the Boston Bruins on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS, NESN, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV)