NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils found their winning touch Tuesday night, getting a pivotal second-period power-play goal from Declan Chisholm and a strong performance in net from Jake Allen to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 4-3.
Chisholm delivered the decisive goal at 12:33 of the second period, recording his first goal as a Devil and giving New Jersey a lead it would not surrender. Allen stopped 31 shots to help the Devils bounce back from their previous loss to Washington.
Luke Evangelista, Arseny Gritsyuk and Jesper Boqvist also scored for New Jersey, which improved its record at home by winning for the fourth time in six games.
Colorado received a goal from captain Gabriel Landeskog and two late scores from Artturi Lehkonen, but the Avalanche could not complete their comeback after falling behind by three goals.
Allen, 34, turned aside Colorado’s attempts to rally after being recognized before the game for reaching 500 career appearances earlier this month. The veteran goaltender improved to 4-2-0 on the season.
The Avalanche, meanwhile, suffered their third defeat in four games after losing 3-2 to Philadelphia on Monday. Despite the loss, Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood was busy throughout the night, finishing with 37 saves against his former team.
Wedgewood entered the contest with an impressive 5-0-0 record and a 1.52 goals-against average against New Jersey.
Devils Strike First, Avalanche Respond
New Jersey took the early lead when Evangelista scored at 6:40 of the opening period. His third goal of the season gave the Devils an early boost as they looked to put their previous loss behind them.
Colorado answered at 14:32 when Landeskog found the back of the net for his fourth goal of the campaign, evening the score before the teams headed into the second period.
Landeskog’s return to regular NHL action has been a significant storyline. The Avalanche captain missed more than three seasons following major surgery on his right knee before returning last season, when he scored 14 goals in 60 games.
With the game tied, the Devils needed a timely contribution to regain control.
Chisholm provided it.
His power-play strike at 12:33 of the second period put New Jersey ahead and marked an important milestone for the defenseman in his new uniform. The goal proved to be the difference as the Devils maintained their advantage through the remainder of the contest.
Gritsyuk Extends the Lead
New Jersey added to its cushion early in the third period. Gritsyuk scored at 4:39, giving the Devils a two-goal advantage and putting additional pressure on Colorado.
The Avalanche continued to battle, but New Jersey’s defense and Allen’s work in goal helped keep the visitors from immediately cutting into the lead.
Boqvist then delivered what appeared to be the finishing touch, scoring into an empty net at 16:05 to push the Devils ahead 4-1.
Colorado, however, refused to go quietly.
Lehkonen scored at 16:46 to reduce the deficit, then struck again with just 3.5 seconds remaining. His late goals made the final score much closer, but the Avalanche had run out of time to find an equalizer.
The two-goal finish gave Lehkonen the final say on the scoresheet, although New Jersey had done enough to secure the victory.
Allen Comes Through When It Matters
While Chisholm supplied the decisive goal, Allen’s 31 saves were essential to the Devils’ success.
Colorado generated 34 shots on goal, forcing Allen to remain sharp as the Avalanche attempted to build momentum. His performance helped New Jersey withstand the pressure, particularly during the late push that produced Lehkonen’s two goals.
Wedgewood also delivered a strong outing at the opposite end, making 37 saves. His effort kept Colorado within reach for much of the game, but the Devils capitalized on key opportunities to secure the win.
Another milestone came from Colorado defenseman Brent Burns, who appeared in his 1,015th consecutive game. The 41-year-old veteran moved 49 games away from tying Phil Kessel’s NHL record for consecutive games played. Burns has now played 1,589 games in his NHL career.
Looking Ahead
The Devils will return to home ice Thursday to face the Anaheim Ducks as they attempt to build on Tuesday’s victory.
Colorado will look to end its recent slide Friday when it hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning.
For New Jersey, the win offered a welcome response after the loss in Washington. Chisholm’s timely power-play goal, contributions from three other Devils scorers and Allen’s steady work in net proved to be the winning combination.
