Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils Survive Power Play Blunder To Beat Ottawa

By Vincent Parise

OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 27: New Jersey Devils Left Wing Jesper Bratt (63) and New Jersey Devils Right Wing Kyle Palmieri (21) celebrate a third period goal against the Ottawa Senators during the NHL game on January 27, 2020 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 27: New Jersey Devils Left Wing Jesper Bratt (63) and New Jersey Devils Right Wing Kyle Palmieri (21) celebrate a third period goal against the Ottawa Senators during the NHL game on January 27, 2020 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The New Jersey Devils are a team that is not making the playoffs but the important thing down the stretch is the right players playing well.

The New Jersey Devils played their first game following their long bye week/All-Star break. They went into the break on a three-game losing streak, so they needed to come out of the break firing on all cylinders. They did that as they thoroughly outplayed the Ottawa Senators en route to their 4-3 shootout victory. It was a wildly entertaining game, but it wasn’t all pretty for the Devils either.

The Devils were leading 2-1 in the third period when they went on the power play. That power play yielded not one, but two shorthanded goals. That put the Senators ahead with not much time remaining in the game. The Devils top line was able to put the team on the back and get it tied before the game was over. Overtime saw both teams create a bunch of high-danger scoring chances, but nobody scored.

No player stood out more than Jack Hughes. He was all over the place in the game, but nothing went into the net. He is showing the flare that he had while playing for the United States National Development Program. These are the skills that earned him the right to be the first overall pick by the Devils. He is so gifted but he is just taking a little time to catch up to the speed of the NHL. It won’t be long before he is one of the elite offensive players in the NHL.

Hughes wasn’t the only young core piece to make an impact in this game. Nico Hischier and the top line looked really good in most of the game. Hischier made a really nice play with Jesper Bratt that allowed Kyle Palmieri to hit the rebound in for the tying goal. This is what the rest of this season is about. They need the future of the team to step up and prove that they can carry it. Nico and Jack both looked really good in this one.

Related Story. Nico Hischier's trip to the All-Star Game. light

The Devils are finally back at home when the Nashville Predators come to town on Thursday night. This is a nationally televised game so the Devils need to come to play. This will be the first time that John Hynes comes back to New Jersey as a visiting coach since being fired by the Devils earlier this season. The Devils need to show up to play to avoid being embarrassed by their old coach.

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