NJ Devils run out of time against Penguins in 4-3 loss

By Abbey Mastracco
https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/nhl/devils/2019/02/19/nj-devils-run-out-time-against-penguins-4-3-loss/2910334002/
February 19, 2019

Patrick Warburton who played the part of David Putty on the TV show Seinfeld drops the puck between Andy Greene #6 of the New Jersey Devils and Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Prudential Center on February 19, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK — It took four meetings this season before the Devils fell behind in a game to the Pittsburgh Penguins but when it finally happened Tuesday night they couldn’t recover. New Jersey failed to complete the season sweep of their Metropolitan Division foes, falling 4-3 to the Penguins at Prudential Center.

Jesper Bratt and Marcus Johansson each had a goal and an assist for the Devils, both coming in the first period when the Devils and Penguins each exchanged two goals. Mirco Mueller assisted on both as well. But the Penguins scored twice in the second period despite a nearly equal amount of attempts and offense generated. 

“I thought in the first period we played well but we got away from our game in the second,” coach John Hynes said. “We had some chances in the second and could have used some stops there, but I thought in the third period, we were the better team.” 

The Devils hit posts and crossbars a handful of times but weren’t able to get anything past goalie Matt Murray until 15 minutes into the third period. With five minutes left, Miles Wood scored to give New Jersey life. 

Blake Coleman took a penalty at 17:09 and the Devils put their goal scorers on the ice, using Johansson and Kyle Palmieri to kill the penalty. But they spent the rest of the game defending and ran out of time. 

"I think we worked for our chances," Johansson said. "I guess we needed a couple more to get the fourth one too, but (Murray) made some big stops. There was one where I thought I was scoring and he made a great save. We had enough chances to win but we didn't put them in." 

The game-changing goal came 10:45 into the second period when Bryan Rust buried a feed from Jake Guentzel off the rush. Kinkaid made the initial stop but the puck trickled past him and crossed the line for a goal to break the 2-2 tie.

Chad Ruhwedel put the Penguins up 4-2 late in the third period, rocketing a point shot off the crossbar. 

Nick Bjugstad beat Kinkaid high on the power play with just under two minutes left in the first period to the tie the game at 2-2.

Johansson scored his 12th of the season at 12:12, going top-shelf with a backhander. This came a few minutes after Sidney Crosby set up Staten Island native Zach Aston-Reese from down low. Aston-Reese cut through the crease to finish off the feed from the captain.

Bratt put the Devils on the board with a shot from the circle at 2:14. The second-year forward has come on strong as of late with 10 points in his last nine games. He nearly tied the game for the Devils in the third but he hit the post. 

Keith Kinkaid, who started all four games against the Penguins this season, made 24 saves.



Notes: Actor Patrick Warburton, who played "Seinfeld" character David Puddy, reprised his role for charity and dropped the ceremonial puck in full facepaint. ... Travis Zajac skated in his 900th career NHL game, becoming just the fourth player to do so for the New Jersey franchise. … Pavel Zacha missed his second-straight game with an upper-body injury. … Prior to the game, the Devils activated forward Blake Coleman from injured reserve and assigned forward Nick Lappin to Binghamton of the American Hockey League. … The Devils concluded the season series with a 3-1-0 record against the Penguins. They out-scored them 18-10. … New Jersey scratched Steven Santini and Kurtis Gabriel. 

NHL: 'Seinfeld' actor Patrick Warburton reprises role as Devils fan David Puddy for good cause