NEWARK, N.J. — Nico Sturm netted a crucial goal late in the first period, and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood delivered an impressive performance with 44 saves, leading the San Jose Sharks to a narrow 1-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday evening.
Sturm found the back of the net for the third time this season when his backhand shot deflected off Timo Meier of the Devils and slipped past goalie Jake Allen with just under four minutes remaining in the first period. He was assisted on the play by Carl Grundstrom and Henry Thrun.
Blackwood, who previously spent five seasons with the Devils before being traded to the Sharks in June 2023, achieved his 11th career shutout in his first appearance as an away goalie at the Prudential Center.
This defeat brought an end to the Devils’ impressive three-game winning streak. New Jersey had recently triumphed in Saturday’s match with a comeback 4-3 overtime victory against the Islanders.
Allen managed 26 saves throughout the contest.
In notable developments, Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini, the first overall pick in last June’s draft, played his fourth game and made his debut against an Eastern Conference team. The 18-year-old Celebrini, who recently returned from a 12-game absence due to a hip injury, has made a mark with three goals and four points so far.
Key moments highlighted Blackwood’s standout saves, including a crucial stop against former teammate Jesper Bratt during the final minute of the second period. He also turned aside a shot from the Devils’ leading scorer, Jack Hughes, in the third period, and thwarted a long-range effort from defenseman Brenden Dillon shortly after.
A significant statistic from the game is that the Sharks entered with a dismal 1-5-1 record on the road, marking this as their first win in regulation during away games this season. Prior to this, their only road win came from a 5-4 overtime victory at Utah on October 28.
Meanwhile, the Devils’ home record has dipped to 4-3-2, although they maintain a more favorable 6-3-0 when playing on the road.
Looking ahead, the Sharks are set to face the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night as they continue their four-game road trip. The Devils will head to play against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.