NEWARK, N.J. — Jesper Bratt starred in the New Jersey Devils’ rally to clinch a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night, recording his second consecutive three-point game. Bratt was instrumental, leveling the score at 2-2 with his 19th goal of the season just 6:50 into the third period, and shortly after, assisting Simon Nemec’s first goal of the season a mere 1:35 later. Brett Pesce contributed with a goal, while goalie Jake Allen was instrumental with 31 saves, 18 of which came during the tense final period.
For the Oilers, Leon Draisaitl continued his stellar form by scoring his league-leading 47th goal, while Evan Bouchard found the back of the net and Connor McDavid added two assists to his tally. Despite their prowess, the Oilers suffered another blow, marking their second consecutive loss and their eighth in the last 11 games.
Noteworthy Observations:
The Oilers: Draisaitl has extended his points streak to an impressive 16 games. Goalie Stuart Skinner made 18 saves in the match, though he stopped just four of six attempts in the decisive third period.
The Devils: On a day overshadowed by the announcement that star defenseman Dougie Hamilton would be sidelined for the rest of the regular season, the Devils found goals from unexpected sources. Nemec’s goal marked just the fourth of his career, while Pesce managed his third of the season, having recently struck form with two goals in his last five outings.
Pivotal Moment:
Facing a 2-1 deficit, Bratt unleashed a shot through heavy traffic that slipped past Skinner. Seconds after, Bratt set up Nemec’s powerful shot from the point that caught the Oilers off guard.
Key Statistic:
The Devils triumphantly secured their 14th comeback victory this season, enhancing their overall record to 23-5-3 in games where they score first.
Looking Ahead:
The Oilers are set to face the New York Islanders on Friday night, while the Devils will visit Pittsburgh for a Saturday night matchup.
