Devils off to solid start, ride Dougie Hamilton goal to win over Red Wings

NEWARK, N.J. — Dougie Hamilton snapped a third-period tie, Vitek Vanecek made 32 saves and the New Jersey Devils beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Thursday night in the season opener for each team.

At 15:37, Hamilton delivered a powerful shot from the point, defeating Ville Husso and allowing the Devils to continue their successful streak from last season, where they achieved an impressive 112 points.

Hamilton stated that he failed to score during preseason and contemplated the possibility that it might take 10 games before he could score. However, fortunately, he managed to get one past the screen and it turned out to be a significant goal for their team.

In the second period, New Jersey’s Jack Hughes found the net twice, while Jonas Siegenthaler contributed with three assists.

Hughes expressed that although we didn’t perform at our best, securing a victory is still significant. He emphasized that when January arrives, it will merely be two points, so beginning on a positive note is crucial, especially considering the distractions. Hughes added that winning is paramount for us and our fans.

At 18:29, Erik Haula extended the lead to 4-2 with an empty-net goal, while Robby Fabbri of Detroit found the net at 19:26.

The Red Wings also saw goals from Alex DeBrincat and Daniel Sprong. DeBrincat, who hails from Michigan, joined the team in July through a trade with Ottawa.

Sprong broke the scoreless tie at 12:14 of the second period, but Hughes quickly responded with a goal on a power play for New Jersey at 13:39. From a challenging angle below the goal line on the left wing, the 22-year-old center skillfully whipped the puck into the net.

At 18:43, Hughes skillfully fired the puck past Husso from the high slot, granting the Devils the advantage.

After scoring his second goal, Hughes, who was the Devils’ leading scorer with 43 goals and 99 points last season, was greeted by the boisterous crowd at Prudential Center with chants of “MVP! MVP!” Following his impressive performance, the 2019 draft’s top overall pick earned the eighth spot in the Hart Trophy voting.

Hughes commented on the encouraging opening-night chorus, saying it was a bit early but not something to be overly dismayed about.

At 9:45 into the third period, Hughes received a penalty for slashing, which ultimately resulted in a tying goal by DeBrincat at 10:43. During his lone season with Ottawa, DeBrincat showcased his skills with an impressive tally of 27 goals and a career-high 39 assists.

Devils coach Lindy Ruff expressed, “I believed we gained control of the game in the second period, although it certainly wasn’t a Picasso.”

Vanecek, who was a standout for the Devils last season by earning 33 victories, showcased his exceptional skills at 8:13 of the second period. He made a remarkable save by denying Andrew Copp at the doorstep, as Copp received a pass from Sprong during a 2-on-1 break.

In the opening period, both the Detroit and Devils teams engaged in an energetic game, with Detroit dominating the shots at 14-6. Additionally, both teams had the opportunity for two power-play chances.

“The beginning was fantastic. We had the opportunity to score three or four,” commented the 28-year-old Husso, currently in his second season playing for the Red Wings. “We need to transform games like this into victories.”

Last spring, the quick Devils triumphed over the rival Rangers in a seven-game series in the first round of the playoffs, following a remarkable 49-point improvement in the 2022-23 season. However, their journey was cut short in the second round when they were defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Detroit’s most recent playoff appearance occurred in the 2015-16 season, during which they achieved 35 wins and 80 points.

Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde acknowledged that his team played well in the first and third periods, but unfortunately, they struggled in the second period due to turnovers. Lalonde credited the opposing goaltender, Husso, for making crucial saves and recognized that the opposing team’s speed and ability to create scoring opportunities played a role in their success. The opponents were able to capitalize on their chances throughout the game.

SPIRITED GREETING

Lindy Ruff, the coach of the Devils, was given a thunderous applause during the pregame introductions at Prudential Center after signing a multiyear contract extension on Wednesday. At 63 years old, Ruff holds the impressive fifth spot on the NHL career list with 835 coaching wins. Under his guidance, the Devils achieved their first postseason series victory since 2012.

WORTH NOTING

In season-opening games, the Devils have a record of 23 wins, 10 losses, 4 overtime wins, and 4 shootout wins. When starting a season at home, they boast a strong record of 14 wins, 3 losses, 2 overtime wins, and 3 shootout wins. For the game, New Jersey decided to bench defensemen Chris Tierney and Colin Miller, as well as forward Nathan Bastian. On the other hand, Detroit chose to scratch defenseman Olli Maatta and goaltender Alex Lyon.

UP NEXT

Devils: Host the Arizona Coyotes on Friday.

Red Wings: Host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

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