Dawson Mercer scored bookend goals in New Jersey’s four-goal second period, propelling the Devils to a 5-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday in Newark, N.J.
Mercer, 23, recorded his first multigoal game this season, scoring a game-tying goal 1:24 into the frame and the second of New Jersey’s two goals in a late 12-second span.
Nico Hischier had a goal and two assists, while Dougie Hamilton (one goal, one assist) and Timo Meier (two assists) also had multipoint efforts for the Devils.
New Jersey went 3-for-7 on the power play and had a 35-23 shot advantage en route to its first regulation win since Jan. 6. The Devils were 1-2-3 in the past six games, including an overtime victory.
Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom did not return after his left leg struck the post during a second-period collision with Boston forward Justin Brazeau.
Markstrom made six saves on seven shots in 23:09. Jake Allen stopped all 16 shots he faced in relief.
Morgan Geekie scored for Boston, which was on a four-game point streak (3-0-1).
Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves on 29 shots across the first two periods before being replaced by Joonas Korpisalo, who allowed one goal on six shots.
Swayman’s 12 first-period saves helped the Bruins take a 1-0 lead into the locker room, but the game turned with the hosts scoring four goals on 17 shots in the middle period.
Mercer tallied on a turnaround shot after Meier collected the carom of a wide shot and fed the puck in front.
After Brazeau was penalized for interfering with Markstrom, Hamilton netted the go-ahead goal during the ensuing power play at 4:12. It was a one-timer off Bratt’s cross-ice pass from right to left.
The first of the Devils’ quick-fire goals was Noesen’s man-up tally at 16:01. After Hischier’s try banked off the skate of Boston defender Nikita Zadorov, Noesen benefited from a fortuitous bounce and scored over Swayman’s pad.
Mercer added his second goal at 16:13, finishing a tic-tac-toe sequence with Justin Dowling and Meier.
Allen stopped the Bruins from gaining momentum, making a point-blank stop on Oliver Wahlstrom, who collected an Elias Lindholm feed off the rush in the final minute of the second.
On a sustained power-play shift, Hischier tipped home Hamilton’s point shot to increase the Devils’ lead at 13:32 of the third period.
In the first, brilliant passing led to the Bruins’ goal at 5:50. Pavel Zacha started the play with an interception and left a quick drop feed for David Pastrnak, who made a no-look distribution across the ice to Geekie to rip into an open net.
–Field Level Media
