ST. PAUL, Minn. — Nico Hischier’s remarkable performance on the ice, marked by a hat trick, propelled the New Jersey Devils to a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. This achievement marks Hischier’s second hat trick of the season, showcasing his skill and contribution to the Devils’ success.
Joining Hischier on the scoreboard, Paul Cotter and Tomas Tatar each found the back of the net. Jesper Bratt stood out with two assists, while goaltender Jacob Markstrom delivered a solid performance with 22 saves to help guide the Devils to their second win in their last six contests, improving to a 2-3-1 record.
On the other side of the rink, Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman delivered goals for the Wild, with Foligno also assisting in the third period. Despite making 28 saves, Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson couldn’t halt New Jersey’s offense. The Wild have endured a challenging stretch, losing three of their past four games.
Currently, Minnesota shares the top position for the wild card spot in the Western Conference with St. Louis, with a critical six-point advantage over Vancouver. The Blues continued their impressive run, capturing a 2-1 victory against Colorado, extending their winning streak to nine games.
In a game that saw New Jersey recover from a scoreless outing against Winnipeg on Friday, Hischier promptly put them on the board, scoring just 29 seconds into play. Cotter followed with the second goal less than six minutes later, establishing an early 2-0 lead.
Though Hischier extended the lead to 3-1 in the third period, Hartman promptly narrowed the gap for the Wild. Hischier sealed his hat trick with a crucial power-play goal, bringing his season tally to a career-high 33 goals. Adding to the intensity, Foligno engaged in a bout with New Jersey’s Jonathan Kovacevic, completing a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, an assist, and a fight.
The Devils’ victory was marked by multiple takeaways, including Hischier’s quick opening goal, his fastest of the season, as the forward continued his excellent form with points in 10 of his last 11 games. For the Wild, a taxing 5-5-1 stretch concluded, wherein they played 10 out of 11 games at home. Their upcoming schedule includes a challenging eight games, with five on the road, where they have an impressive record.
A pivotal moment occurred late in the second period when a near goal by Bratt on a 3-on-1 rush was narrowly thwarted by a deflection off teammate Timo Meier, keeping the score unchanged.
Bratt’s assist tally was noteworthy, achieving 15 in a month, a milestone the Devils haven’t seen since Scott Gomez’s 16 assists back in 2004. Bratt’s consistent contributions have paved the way to a career-high 66 assists this season.
Looking ahead, the Wild are set to visit New Jersey on Monday, rounding out their home-and-home series with the Devils.