In Newark, Jakob Silfverberg hit for a double in the first period to give the Anaheim Ducks a 2-0 lead over the New Jersey Devils in the first period on Tuesday night.
“As the game went on, I thought we made some tired mistakes,” Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said. “We didn’t manage their pushes or their pressure, and you’ve got to learn how to do that in back-to-back games.”
Mistakes indeed.
The Ducks went quiet after the first period and New Jersey rallied for a 4-2 win.
“If you’re going to win games, you’re going to need the production from your top six like we had tonight,” New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. “I feel that production could have been a lot greater and we talked about that for three games. We missed opportunities tonight, but we persevered. We were facing some adversity, but Nico and his guys did a great job.”
Nico Hischier and Ondrej Palat scored in the middle frame to get the clubs even at 2-2.
“It feels good,” said Hischier, the New Jersey captain. “It would be a tough one if we were sitting here again, and not come out with a win. I think we battled hard again and that’s our identity. We want to battle hard every game and if you keep battling that way, we’re going to get more W’s.”
Ruff was disappointed in his highly priced young core of the roster and shortened the bench to three lines of veterans.
“I put it on our veterans and just felt that we’d go with three lines,” Ruff said. “Maybe use Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian to kill penalties and McLeod for a few face-offs. I was just trying to breed a little bit of familiarity with putting Bratt up there (with Hischier and Ondrej Palat).”
Mackenzie Blackwood made 18 saves in the win.
“It’s still early in the season and everyone panics a little bit after the first game,” Blackwood said. “We didn’t like our game last game, but it was important that we turned the page and do things the right way. I think the guys did a good job.”
Dougie Hamilton scored to put New Jersey up, 3-2, in the third period.
“I was hoping Jesper would get that puck across,” Hamilton said. “It was an unbelievable pass. I thought I was going to miss for sure, but it’s almost one of those where it was too easy.”
Dawson Mercer scored in the 13th minute of the third for the 4-2 final.
Anthony Stolarz made 37 saves in the loss.
“I think that everything just kind of shifted in their way, the momentum,” Silfverberg said. “We started making the hard play rather than the right play.”
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