4 Takeaways From the Devils’ Thrilling 4-3 Shootout Win Over the Oilers

On Tuesday night, the New Jersey Devils kicked off their two-game homestand by hosting the Edmonton Oilers. The Devils looked to continue the momentum from their 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights last week, while the Oilers sought their fourth straight victory. 

Fans were eagerly awaiting puck drop between these high-scoring teams, and the matchup did not disappoint. It was a gritty, penalty-ridden battle that went all the way to a shootout, but the Devils held on for a 4-3 win. Here are a few key takeaways from the game.

Brown Ends Power-Play Slump

After going four games without a power-play goal, it was clear that the Devils needed to shake things up. Earlier this week, they made an adjustment to their power play — a decision they reaped the benefits of not once, but twice against the Oilers. During Monday’s practice, Connor Brown was moved to the top unit alongside Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and the Hughes brothers.

At the end of last season, Brown proved to be a useful addition to their first power-play unit. Luckily, that chemistry came back with a vengeance. He netted his first goal on the man advantage for 2026-27, tying the game at one in the second period. His speed and skill were on perfect display, racing in front of the net to pick up Jack Hughes’s rebound.

That’s power-play specialist Connor Brown to you. #NJDevils | @Mikes_Amazing https://t.co/a4JQLuBJVV

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 4, 2026

Brown also got an assist on the Devils’ second power-play goal, firing the puck toward J. Hughes for a tic-tac-toe sequence. Before Brown’s promotion to the top unit, the team struggled to score two power-play goals in one game — let alone in a single period. Last night marked the first time since Oct. 10 that the Devils scored multiple times on the man advantage.

In his postgame press conference, head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters how important it is to have a player like Brown who can make a difference in all situations and shift throughout the lineup as needed. “He was terrific right from day one of training camp in terms of his role kind of changing and sort of starting lower in the lineup. But I think he always trusted in himself and I always knew deep down he’s going to be a really important guy,” said Keefe.

Hellebuyck’s Warm Jersey Welcome

This continued throughout the first period, as he made a few key saves early on, to a soundtrack of even more chants and cheers. Though the Oilers got on the board first, Hellebuyck played with an admirable level of calm. He surrendered one goal per period, but was once again a solid presence in net, stopping 18 out of 21 shots faced.

But his best efforts came beyond regulation. He shut the door on each of the Oilers’ overtime scoring opportunities, keeping the game tied at three. Connor McDavid may have gotten a wrist shot past Hellebuyck soon after, but he did not allow any other goals in the shootout, robbing Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Kasperi Kapanen.

After the game, Hellebuyck shared his appreciation for the fans’ passion, as well as how it boosted the team’s overall morale. “This is a pretty rowdy crowd, and I’m really excited to play a lot of games in front of them. That being said, I thought they really helped us tonight. We got the momentum going, and they didn’t let us lose it,” he said.

Top-Six Surge Continues

Once again, the Devils’ top lines have been hard at work, driving play and finding the back of the net. For the second game in a row, Hughes scored two goals, leading the club’s forwards in ice time (25:16), shot attempts (13), and blocked shots (3). This brings him up to 10 points in six games, putting him on pace for 45 goals and 106 points, both of which would set a new career high for him.

Arseny Gritsyuk played a pivotal role in the shootout. In only the second attempt of his career, he scored the game-winner, waiting out Tristan Jarry before firing a wrist shot home.

Another noteworthy aspect of the game was their all-around defensive effort. Leading the way was Hischier’s line, which played tough minutes against Oilers’ superstars McDavid and Draisaitl. McDavid was stifled with only a single shot on goal, and the Devils held the Oilers to just three shots throughout the second. 

Hischier’s shutdown role earned ample praise from his teammates, including Hellebuyck. “I thought they were incredible…It’s the stuff that doesn’t really get talked about enough, and those are the guys that are the most appreciative in the locker room,” he told media.

The first and second lines have been working like a well-oiled machine, with extraordinary efforts at both ends of the ice. If they can maintain such a high level of efficiency, there will be no question about their status as a contender.

Boqvist’s 400th NHL Game

This season has been filled with milestones for the Devils, and the team had another achievement to celebrate last night. Jesper Boqvist played in the 400th NHL game of his career, which only seemed fitting after being drafted by New Jersey in 2017. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Devils, then played for the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers before donning the red and black again.

Game 1 and Game 400, both in Black and Red. #NJDevils | @NHL https://t.co/clvzrar930

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 4, 2026

Boqvist has been an important depth presence this season, finding a permanent home on the third line with Anthony Mantha and Evan Rodrigues. Though their impact might not always be visible on the score sheet, they can hold their own in terms of matching their opponent in shot attempts. Against the Oilers, they had an expected goal percentage of 69.20%, which was second only to the Meier-Hischier-Evangelista line.

Devils Back in Action on Thursday

The Devils will take on the St. Louis Blues on Thursday for Military Appreciation Night, where the first 9,000 fans will receive a free hat courtesy of Prudential Financial. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM ET.