Allen makes 36 saves, Devils edge Golden Knights in shootout

LAS VEGAS – Jake Allen made 36 saves to give the New Jersey Devils a 2-1 shootout victory against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday.

“Nothing was getting by Jake tonight,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. “That was a great performance by him. … When you have that type of goaltending, you’re going to have a real good chance.”

Connor Brown scored for the Devils (19-14-1), who have won two of their past three. Jesper Bratt scored the only goal in the shootout, while Allen denied the Golden Knights on all three attempts.

“We wanted to right the ship a little bit,” Allen said. “We wanted to make progress here and start pushing a little bit, get our game back in order, build some consistency with our group. Tonight was a good step.”

Pavel Dorofeyev scored, and Carter Hart made 32 saves for the Golden Knights (16-6-10), who extended their point streak to eight games (6-0-2), but also suffered their League-leading 10th overtime or shootout loss.

“It wasn’t our best game. Both goalies played outstanding today,” Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb said. “We had our looks. We had a lot of great chances. To get a point’s great, but would have liked to get two.”

Brown gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at 4:50 of the second period. He picked up a loose puck in his offensive zone, drove to the center of the ice, and finished in tight around Hart’s left pad.

“I wasn’t really thinking,” Brown said. “I knew I had a little lane to the net there. [Ondrej Palat] opened up, drew his defender with him. Had a quick little lane on the net, just tried to beat him at the back post.”

Dorofeyev scored at 15:49 of the third period when he roofed a one-timer from Mark Stone on the power play. It was Dorofeyev’s ninth power-play goal of the season.

“Our team knows they’re never out of a game,” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “They’ve had success in that situation, so it doesn’t surprise me. … It is urgency [on our part]. Our guys don’t like to lose, so they’re going to be a bit harder. We need a little more of that mentality early on, but that’s what happens through the course of a game in a lot of sports.”

Jack Eichel (illness) missed his first game of the regular season, prompting Cassidy to move Reilly Smith, a winger, to start at center for the third time this season. Smith had four shots on goal in 16:08 of ice time.

“Jack hasn’t missed a game this year, so this is a little bit new to us,” Cassidy said. “I know it’s a big ask [to play center as a winger].”

Devils defenseman Brett Pesce made his return after missing 24 games with a hand injury. He played 23:58 with three shots and three blocked shots.

“It’s been killing me, to be honest, not being able to get out here with the guys,” Pesce said. “Super excited about this one. We battled to the very end.”

NOTES: Dorofeyev extended his point streak to four games (four points; three goals, one assist).