Jesper Bratt delivered the decisive strike in overtime, converting a breakaway pass from Dougie Hamilton to secure a 5-4 victory for the New Jersey Devils over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night. The win extends New Jersey’s impressive run to eight wins in their last ten games and marks their sixth consecutive triumph at the Prudential Center. This surge has propelled the Devils into second place in the Metropolitan Division, signaling a significant turnaround after missing the playoffs in the previous two seasons.
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The game featured a dramatic swing in momentum, as New Jersey held a commanding 4-1 lead after two periods before the Blues mounted a frantic comeback. St. Louis erased the deficit with three unanswered goals in just 3 minutes and 8 seconds, with Mason McTavish, Philip Broberg, and Dalibor Dvorsky finding the back of the net. The final two goals came just 18 seconds apart with 5:06 remaining in regulation, forcing the contest into extra time.
Offensively, Anthony Manta led the charge for New Jersey with two goals and an assist, while Luke Hughes contributed a goal and an assist. Jack Hughes added two assists, bringing his total to eight points in his last five games and leading the team with 21 points on the season. In goal, Connor Hellebuyck made 28 saves to earn his fourth consecutive win since being acquired from Winnipeg in late October, cementing his value to the Devils’ roster.
Source: Yahoo Sports
