Nico Hischier records 1st career hat trick to lead Devils over Predators

By EVERETT MERRILL

NEWARK — Nico Hischier recorded his archetypal vocation chapeau instrumentality to springiness the New Jersey Devils a 5-2 triumph implicit the Nashville Predators connected Monday.

Hischier ended a 10-game scoring drought with his 11th, 12th and 13th of the season. All 3 goals occurred successful the 2nd period.

Erik Haula added a extremity for New Jersey (15-7-2) and Justin Dowling scored an empty-netter. Johnathan Kovacevic had 2 assists.

Filip Forsberg and Zachary L’ Heureux scored for Nashville (7-12-3).

Jacob Markstrom stopped 19 shots for New Jersey. Juuse Saros recorded 26 saves for Nashville. He was pulled aft 2 periods successful favour of erstwhile Devil Scott Wedgewood, who had 15 saves.

Nashville guardant Steven Stamkos, who had tallied 45 points (24 goals, 21 assists) successful 44 vocation games against New Jersey — including six games with 3 points — was held to lone 2 shots Monday.

The Predators traded Philip Tomasino, their first-round draught prime successful 2019, to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a fourth-round prime successful the 2027 draught connected Monday. Tomasino scored 23 goals and recorded 48 assists successful 159 games with Nashville.

TAKEAWAYS

Nashville: The Predators were a top-10 squad successful power-play ratio coming into the game, scoring connected 22.7% of their chances, but managed conscionable 7 shots successful 5 power-play opportunities.

New Jersey: The Devils recorded a season-high 46 shots connected goal.

KEY MOMENT

The Devils killed disconnected a five-minute large precocious successful the 3rd play portion clinging to a 4-2 lead. Timo Meier was called for cross-checking with 7:43 to play, but Nashville managed conscionable 1 changeable implicit the 5 minutes.

KEY STAT

The triumph ended Nashville’s caller dominance implicit New Jersey astatine the Prudential Center. The Predators had won 8 consecutive games astatine Prudential anterior to Monday.

UP NEXT

The Devils big St. Louis connected Wednesday successful different Central Division matchup, portion the Predators big Philadelphia connected Wednesday.