The New Jersey Devils hosted the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, March 22 for their third and final matchup of the season. The Senators took the victory here, 3-2. They also won the season series, winning two of the three matchups the two teams played.
Devils Had a Weak Second Period
The Devils let in two goals within 33 seconds of each other in the second period. Four minutes into the second, Brady Tkachuk tipped the puck into the net off a pass from Jake Sanderson. While Brian Dumoulin skated out to defend against Sanderson, Tkachuk used that opportunity to get in front of the net. Sanderson took advantage of this and passed the puck to Tkachuk while no one defended him.
Off the faceoff, the Senators once again controlled the puck in their offensive zone. The Devils grouped up in front of the net, which gave Drake Batherson an opening. Dylan Cozens sent the puck to him, and he scored the second goal for the Senators within the second period.
Related: Senators Hold Off Devils in Newark, Win 3-2
Although Nico Hischier scored three minutes later to put the Devils on the board, the Senators scored another goal a minute later to bring them back to their two-goal lead. Claude Giroux was alone towards the bottom of the faceoff circle. While all the Devils players on the penalty kill were grouped towards the front of the net, Giroux took a shot. David Perron was able to slip into the front of the crease. He tipped Giroux’s shot into the back of the net to score the third goal of the night for the Senators.
All three of the Senators’ goals stem from a lack of defense. The Devils left these players wide open, allowing them the chance to score.
Devils Didn’t Let Injuries Halt Them
In the second period, Luke Hughes blocked a shot with his body. The impact did some damage, as he went down the tunnel to be evaluated. Brett Pesce also took a puck to the face and was gushing blood from his nose. He also went down the tunnel to seek medical attention.
Both defensemen quickly returned to the bench after seeking medical attention. Hughes appeared to still be in some discomfort, but he was able to finish out the game.
The Devils cannot afford to lose another defenseman this late in the season. They are already down Jonas Siegenthaler, who is out for the rest of the regular season. Whether or not Siegenthaler will be back in time for the playoffs is up in the air. The Devils are also down Dougie Hamilton with a lower-body injury. He will not be returning for the regular season, with the playoffs also still to be determined. While New Jersey is down two strong defensemen, they cannot afford to lose two more.
Devils’ Comeback Came Too Late in the Game
With 22 seconds left in the game, Cody Glass passed the puck down the boards for Hughes. He passed to Erik Haula, who was in front of the net with no one defending him. He tipped the puck into the space of the net before Linus Ullmark had a chance to block it. Saturday marked Haula’s second game in a row where he scored a goal.
Despite the Devils being outplayed by the Senators in the first two periods, they made up for it in the third. They took 15 shots on the net compared to the Senators’ four shots. They played more defensively, keeping the puck in their offensive zone. However, only one goal made it into the back of the net. Unfortunately, this one goal was not enough; New Jersey still came up short.
Next Up
The Devils will be back in action on Monday, March 24 when they host the Vancouver Canucks.
