The New Jersey Devils came into the Stadium Series off a tough loss to the Los Angeles Kings earlier in the week. The inability to win that game showed the inconsistency that this team has had for most of the year. They needed to step up big if they were going to stay close in the Wild Card race of the Eastern Conference. Well, 11 players had at least one point in their 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at MetLife Stadium.
None of those players, however, were as impactful as captain Nico Hischier. He scored two goals and had one assist in the win. He was the only Devils player to have three points, which is a big part of why he was the game's number-one star.
His first goal of the game was scored within the first minute of the game. Thanks to Hischier, the Devils had a 1-0 lead just 32 seconds into the contest. It was a great way to set the tone. His second goal was off a turnover when he was handed the puck, and he put a perfect shot past Samuel Errson. That goal made it 5-2.
Nico Hischier led the way for the New Jersey Devils to earn a big win
The goals were the 17th and 18th of the season for Hischier. He is not going to play in all 82 games, as he missed some time earlier in the year, but he is currently on an 82-game pace of 34 goals. That would pass his career high of 31, which was set last season.
With the number of games left in the Devils season, you can probably expect him to finish with anywhere from 28-31 goals.
Between the offense he brought to this game and the defense he plays on every shift, he put the team on his back once again. He wears the captain-c for a reason. With it being as big of a stage as it was, it was great to see him lead the way.
The Devils have a lot of elite talent on their team. Plenty of youngsters and veterans make the engine run, but few players in the league are as impactful in all three zones as Nico Hischier. He will never be as flashy as a guy like Jack Hughes. Hughes is the type of superstar who scores or sets up highlight reel goals on a nightly basis.
Hischier isn't quite like that, but he plays an outstanding two-way game that sometimes sacrifices a bit of flash. In this game, we saw how much offense he can bring to the table when things are going well.
You can't win a Stanley Cup without a center that dominates in all three zones like Hischier. They have a long way to go in terms of finishing the team around him, but they'd be much farther behind without their captain.
Now that the Stadium Series is in the books with two points, they can focus down the stretch on getting into the playoffs. Hischier and the Devils will be back in action on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. The Devils sit two points out from the Red Wings for the final Wild Card spot and five points out of Philadelphia, so every point is crucial from here on out.