Jack Hughes absolutely SNIPED one in overtime off a silky pass from Jesper Bratt, sealing a wild 5-4 win for the New Jersey Devils against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. This wasn’t just another early-season W, it was a statement. The Devils, who want to get back to the playoffs after finishing seventh in their division last year, showed some serious grit and a never-say-die attitude that could define their whole season.
Detroit’s Rough Start and New Jersey’s Grinding Comeback
Talk about a head-scratcher opening! The Red Wings got absolutely shelled in the first period, getting outshot an insane 16-0 midway through. You’d think the Devils would’ve capitalized way more, but only Evan Rodrigues managed to put one past Detroit’s John Gibson in that dominant opening frame. Then, in typical hockey fashion, Detroit somehow clawed their way back. Emmitt Finne finally scored on their third shot of the game with just 1:25 left in the first, and then Michael Brandsegg-Nygard followed up on their very next shot early in the second, giving the Red Wings a surprising 2-1 lead. From there, it was a total seesaw battle. Anthony Mantha, a former Red Wing himself, grabbed a tying goal, and Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt each notched tiebreaking goals for New Jersey. But Detroit wouldn’t quit either, with Alex DeBrincat delivering a pair of tying goals to keep the game knotted up. Devils goalie Jake Allen stood tall with 22 saves, while Gibson on the other end made 32 stops, including a critical kick save on an Arseny Gritsyuk odd-man rush late in regulation that forced the extra period.
Offseason Moves Already Paying Off and Detroit’s Lingering Headaches
This game really highlighted the different paths these two teams took in the offseason. The Devils made some key moves, trading for Rodrigues and signing Mantha in free agency to bolster their third line, and you saw both those guys deliver in a big way with goals. It looks like those acquisitions are already starting to pay dividends for a team hungry to prove last year was a fluke. They even saw defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic make his season debut after recovering from knee surgery. On the flip side, the Red Wings are clearly still reeling from a shaky summer. Their former captain Dylan Larkin asked to be traded and is still on the team, and standout defenseman Simon Edvinsson remains an unsigned restricted free agent. You’ve gotta wonder how much that off-ice drama is affecting their play on the ice. The Devils, despite Luke Evangelista being out with an illness and Stefan Noesen stepping in, just looked more cohesive when it counted.
What’s next for these squads? The Devils host the New York Rangers on Thursday night, looking to carry this momentum forward. Meanwhile, the Red Wings will try to shake off this tough loss when they host Philadelphia, also on Thursday. It’s early, but this win for New Jersey feels like a clear message: they’re not messing around this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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