Jack Hughes scored both regulation goals for the visiting New Jersey Devils en route to a 3-2 shootout victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.
Timo Meier scored the deciding goal in the seventh round of the shootout.
Jesper Bratt had two assists for the Devils and Nico Daws stopped 25 shots to record his first victory of the season.
There were less than two minutes left in the first period when the Penguins believed they found the game’s opening goal, but the tally was immediately waved off due to Rickard Rakell kicking the puck into the net.
With just 17 seconds left in the first period, the Devils broke the ice. After some careless defending by the Penguins, Hughes was able to put enough momentum behind the puck to help it trickle past Alex Nedeljkovic.
The Penguins’ penalty kill came up clutch early in the middle frame as they held the Devils off the scoresheet despite Pierre-Olivier Joseph taking a double minor for high-sticking.
While at 4-on-4, Hughes struck again. After winning a faceoff over to Bratt, Hughes skated into open ice and slammed a one-timed shot into the cage with 10:46 left in the second period.
Rakell got the Penguins on the board with just over five minutes remaining in the second as he picked up a rebound, swiftly spun around the back of the net and slammed the puck off the skate of Daws.
The Penguins received a serious scare less than five minutes into the third period as Sidney Crosby looked uncomfortable as he left the ice after some awkward contact with Erik Haula. Luckily for the Penguins, Crosby returned later in the period.
Kevin Hayes stepped up for the Penguins while Crosby was in the locker room, as he flicked a shot over the glove of Daws with 12:07 remaining in regulation to knot the contest up.
Crosby provided the Penguins with their best opportunity of the overtime frame as he fed Bryan Rust out front, but he was unable to direct the puck past Daws.
Hughes then broke in for a breakaway with mere seconds left, but was unable to find his hat-trick goal.
Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler left the contest in the first period due to injury.
