NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils celebrated a solid victory on Saturday night, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0. Nico Hischier contributed significantly with one goal and two assists, while goaltender Jacob Markstrom notched his second shutout of the season, making 12 saves.

Stefan Noesen was the first to get on the scoreboard, achieving his career-high 15th goal at 17:32 during the second period, with assistances provided by Hischier and Timo Meier. Hischier extended the Devils’ lead to 2-0 at 7:47 in the third period, deftly pushing a loose puck past Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry for his 17th goal of the season. Meier later capped off the game with an empty-net goal.

Markstrom, 34, who came to New Jersey in a trade from Calgary back in June, recorded the 22nd shutout of his professional career. The Devils are now leading the Metropolitan Division with a record of 22-11-3 and hold a narrow point advantage over the idle Washington Capitals, who have played four games less.

The Penguins faced their third shutout of the season but had previously managed to secure eight wins in their last 11 outings. Jarry, in net for Pittsburgh, registered 25 saves throughout the match.

Notable Takeaways: New Jersey has been impressive defensively, allowing 20 or fewer shots in six consecutive games. The Penguins now hold a 6-8-3 record on the road, and this matchup marked the first of four meetings scheduled between the two teams this season.

Key Moment: A pivotal moment in the game came when Markstrom made an extraordinary save on Evgeny Malkin’s one-timer early in the second period, keeping the scoreboard level and energizing his teammates.

Key Stat: In his debut season with New Jersey, Markstrom improved his record to 17-6-2, while the Devils bettered their home record to 10-6-3. Additionally, they boast a strong 12-5-0 record when playing away from home.

Looking Ahead: The Devils are set to face the New York Rangers at home on Monday before a three-day Christmas break. Meanwhile, the Penguins will be hosting the Philadelphia Flyers on the same day.