Captain Nico Hischier collected a goal and two assists and Jacob Markstrom made 12 saves to lift the New Jersey Devils to a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday in Newark, N.J.
Timo Meier scored and set up a goal and Stefan Noesen added his career-high 15th goal of the season.
Markstrom turned aside three shots in the third period to preserve his second shutout of the season and 22nd career. Markstrom improved to 8-4-0 in his career versus Pittsburgh and helped the Devils avenge a 4-2 setback to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
Markstrom denied a pair of point-blank chances by Pittsburgh in the second period of a scoreless game. He thwarted Evgeni Malkin's one-timer before denying superstar captain Sidney Crosby of a goal in back-to-back games by reaching back and preventing the puck from crossing the line.
Tristan Jarry finished with 25 saves for the Penguins, who saw their four-game point streak (3-0-1) come to a halt after being shut out for the third time this season.
New Jersey snapped a scoreless tie after taking advantage of a breakdown in net-front defense to open the scoring with 2:28 remaining in the second period. Hischier deftly changed direction along the right-wing boards, gained a step on defenseman Owen Pickering and skated into the corner before backhanding a feed that Noesen converted on the doorstep.
Noesen's goal total eclipsed his previous high, set during the 2023-24 season with the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Devils doubled the advantage at 7:47 of the third period. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton's shot was denied by Jarry, however Hischier alertly spotted the loose puck during a scrum for his team-leading 17th goal of the season.
Meier capped the scoring by finding the empty net with 1:33 remaining in the game.
Pickering sustained an upper-body injury in the second period and did not return to the game.
--Field Level Media
Pittsburgh | New Jersey | |
N/A | Points | Nico Hischier 3 |
N/A | Goals | Nico Hischier 1 |
N/A | Assists | Nico Hischier 2 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | N/A |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Tristan Jarry .923 | Save Percentage | Jacob Markstrom 1.000 |
Tristan Jarry 24 | Saves | Jacob Markstrom 12 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Pittsburgh | 12 | 0 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 12 | 25 |
New Jersey | 27 | 3 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 14 | 27 |