Hischier scores twice, lifts Devils past Kraken in OT

NEWARK, N.J. -- Nico Hischier scored with 1:18 remaining in overtime, giving the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 victory against the Seattle Kraken at Prudential Center on Wednesday.

Hischier won it with his second goal of the game, scoring at the right post with a backhand from in close while falling down on a drive to the net.

"I wanted to take it on my forehand but I saw pressure coming there too," Hischier said. "It's kind of like instinct too. Last second, I'm kind of going to my backhand because [Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer] thinks I'm going to my forehand too, so it worked out well."

Cody Glass also scored, and Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes each had two assists for New Jersey (24-21-2), which has won two straight following a four-game losing streak. Jacob Markstrom made 15 saves.

"A really great team effort to get the two points," Markstrom said. "… Winning gives more confidence than losing. It's a different energy when you win two in a row than lose two in a row. We have to keep building on it."

Jared McCann had a goal and an assist, and Vince Dunn had two assists for Seattle (21-15-9), which has one regulation loss in its past 13 games (9-1-3). Grubauer made 23 saves.

"To be honest, I don't think we really deserved to win that game," Dunn said. "We came out hard in the third, played a little bit better but honestly, we kind of let them come at us and that's not what we need to do."

Glass gave the Devils a 1-0 lead 54 seconds into the game with a tap-in on a rebound in front after Dougie Hamilton's shot was saved by Grubauer.

Adam Larsson tied it 1-1 at 8:55 of the first period with a wrist shot from the top of the slot off a feed from McCann, which was set up by a stretch pass from Dunn.

Hischier put the Devils up 2-1 with a power-play goal at 3:33 of the second period. He took a cross-ice pass from Jack Hughes and shot from just above the right face-off circle.

"You have to find ways to win hockey games," said Hischier, the New Jersey captain. "… They don't give you much. They are waiting for an opponent to make a mistake and they are going the other way. … We kept pushing and we played a [good] third and in the end I think we deserved it. We wanted it a little more than they did."

Seattle tied it 2-2 at 5:06, five seconds into a power play, when McCann scored from low in the right circle by one-timing the rebound of a shot by Dunn.

"I just tried to go back side and maybe get a nice rebound there," McCann said. "The plan was to shoot. It kind of sat there for me, which was nice. … At the end of the day, we got a point out of it and points are huge right now."

The Kraken are 1-1-1 on a five-game road trip that continues at the Boston Bruins on Thursday.

"We're trying to get wins right now," Dunn said. "Disappointing. It's positive to get a point and hopefully with the third period, we bring that momentum into the game tomorrow."

The Devils, who next play Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes, will try to win three straight games for the first time since Nov. 24-28.

"It's important," New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe said of winning two in a row. "It certainly beats the alternative. These are two big points, important points. This was a tough game. … Stayed patient and diligent with our game and we get two points, and that's good."

NOTES: Hischier's two goals gave him 186 to pass Kirk Muller (185) for sixth place on the Devils/Colorado Rockies’ all-time list. He also scored his seventh career overtime goal, tied with Zach Parise for fourth most in franchise history. … The Devils have won six straight games against the Kraken and have never lost to them in regulation (7-0-2). … New Jersey is 8-2 this season in games decided in overtime or the shootout. … Kraken forward Matty Beniers had his five-game point streak end (three goals, three assists). … McCann has points in eight of his past nine games (five goals, five assists).