The New Jersey Devils just beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1. However, it didn’t always look like it was going to be a dominant effort. One might assume the Devils would be the aggressor seeing where both teams are in the standings and since the Blackhawks were starting a rookie in net, but the Devils actually went into the third period down a goal.
The Devils effort in the third period was possibly the best period of hockey we’ve seen from them all season. After being just off with their passes and shots for most of the game, the Devils looked like an unstoppable unit in the third.
First, let’s talk about why they were down by a goal. The team was once again dominant defensively in the first period, holding the Blackhawks to just three official shots on goal, but the second period was different. The Blackhawks looked like the better team for most of it. They had multiple amazing opportunities, and if it wasn’t for the post, they could have scored three goals.
The one goal they did score was a fluke. Jason Dickinson got in tight, and he hit a post just like the rest of his teammates. Unlike his teammates, Dickinson ended up getting a goal out of this. The puck went off Luke Hughes’ face and went in.
There was a feeling of dread for Devils fans, who have seen too many good performances get stonewalled by a goalie. It seemed like rookie netminder Drew Commesso was going to put together one of those crazy performances that Scott Wedgewood, Anthony Stolarz, and Mackenzie Blackwood had before him.
Then, Dawson Mercer scored. It was an insane play where Timo Meier, who’s been incredible despite the lack of scoring numbers, skated around the defenseman and got the puck in the middle. Mercer missed it on the first attempt, but Luke Hughes got the puck and sent a perfect pass to Mercer with a wide-open net. It ended up being a better opportunity, and the Devils tied the game.
New Jersey Devils ride four-goal third-period effort to a dominant win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Not too long later, the Devils put together what should be used in training videos for how to keep the puck into the offensive zone. The Devils were dominating when a line change looked like it would finally give the Blackhawks possession. Jesper Bratt came flying on the ice and broke up a play in his offensive zone. Bratt won a board battle and got the puck to a skating Jack Hughes in stride. Hughes sniped the top left corner of the net, giving the Devils the lead.
The Devils added goals by Timo Meier and Nico Hischier, which were both important to break an unlucky streak for the Devils’ best line.
There have been some great periods this season. The second period against the Rangers, the third period in the Devils’ first matchup with the Panthers, and the first period of the Global Series, where they started the season with a 2-0 lead all come to mind, but this four-goal period is hard to beat.
If the Devils keep playing like they have since the Colorado Avalanche loss, they might become a true Stanley Cup contender. It’s hard to consider a team that is better than the Devils when they are playing at their best. Of course, the Avs game is a good reminder that this team needs to keep their foot on the gas, but if they can avoid these shutouts, then they will compete with anyone.