Here are some observations from the game:
• The Devils thought they had tied the game, and scored on the power play, late in the third period when Connor Brown got the puck into the net. However, after an official review, the goal was waived off. Brown grabbed an airborne puck and was going to place it on the ice near the net when Ullmark knocked the puck into the net with his stick. Since Brown had last touched it with his glove, it was ruled no goal.
Keefe: “As I see it, Connor is making a play to put the puck down and put it into the wide-open empty net and then their goaltender puts it in for him. If the goalie doesn’t make a play on the puck and shoot it in the net himself, then Connor puts it in a wide-open net. That’s a tough one. That is the rule. The goalie is playing his position. Obviously, we’re not going to love the interpretation of that rule because it’s an empty-net goal for Brown if the goalie doesn’t do what he did. That’s a tough bounce to not go our way.”
• Exemplary work by Cody Glass, in his first game back from a lower-body injury, to help the Devils earn their first goal. He starts with an offensive zone faceoff win. Then he cuts to the net. After a shot comes through, he battles with Ridly Greig trying to get the rebound. Glass’ stick is tied up but he keeps fighting. He falls to the ice but gets back up to keep fighting. Somehow he outmuscled Greig and Dylan Cozens to retrieve the puck behind the net. Glass then fed the puck to Meier, who rifled it into the vacant cage for the goal. Meier finishes but Glass did 95 percent of the work.
• Defenseman Dougie Hamilton had his scoring streak snapped at nine games for 10 total points (2g-8a). Hamilton had scored in every game since being a healthy scratch on Jan. 11. He also had a personal streak of 10 games with a point (2g-9a), which also came to an end.
It appeared Hamilton had extended his streak when he was awarded a secondary assist on Timo Meier’s goal, but an official scoring change later awarded that assist to Brown.
• The Devils had some center shuffling at the morning skate and game-time decisions to make at puck drop as their top three centers were all in jeopardy. Center Jack Hughes was ruled out with a lower-body injury, though he was listed as “day-to-day” and is expected to skate soon. Glass was questionable with a lower-body injury, but managed to skate and play in the game. Meanwhile, captain Nico Hischier missed the morning skate while battling an illness and was a game-time decision. Thankfully, he was able to suit up and play.
Keefe: “I thought Glass was really good again today. Really good in the faceoff dot. First game coming back from being hobbled, an injury to miss last game. Jack’s absence today, (Glass) took on a lot of roles and responsibilities and did a nice job.”