The New Jersey Devils will try to get back to their winning ways when they visit the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
The Devils had their eight-game winning streak crash to an end with an 8-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday in the opener of their four-game road trip.
“After we were down a couple goals, we lost structure, and that’s the worst thing that can happen. Gave up easy goals,” Devils forward Nico Hischier said. “(Against Colorado), we showed exactly the recipe of how not to play hockey.”
New Jersey gave up the first five goals against the Avalanche, made it interesting with four straight of its own, but then surrendered the final three.
“I’m already looking forward to San Jose, because that game says a lot,” Hischier said. “We need a bounce-back.”
The Devils beat Colorado 4-3 in overtime at home on Sunday, killing both penalties in the game to enter the rematch second overall in the NHL on the penalty kill before killing just two of six penalties in Tuesday’s loss.
“The goals against were, for the most part, Grade-As from our self-inflicted wounds,” New Jersey defenseman Brenden Dillon said. “Crazy, because we haven’t really done that. Got to be better.”
New Jersey also hosted the Sharks last Friday and won 3-1. San Jose swept the Devils last season, so they won’t be taking the Sharks lightly, especially coming off a one-sided loss.
“It’s pretty obvious they don’t feel great about the game (on Tuesday), but we’ll push past it,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. “I’m really interested in our response.”
The Sharks lost their first six games of the season (0-4-2) before righting the ship and winning a pair of overtime games last week.
They’re still looking for their first win in regulation, however.
San Jose made an admirable comeback on Tuesday night after falling behind 3-0 against the visiting Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks scored three straight of their own to tie it five minutes into the third period, but then gave up the go-ahead goal with 6:40 remaining and lost 4-3.
San Jose outshot the Kings 40-14 in the game.
“The result stinks, but I thought we played really hard, did some really good things for our most complete game of the year,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said.
San Jose center Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, had an assist to extend his point streak to five games (five goals, six assists).
“He’s one of the best in the league,” Sharks forward Alex Wennberg said. “… He makes a difference every time he steps on the ice. He is our franchise player, the best player. It’s just so impressive to watch him. He’s taken another step. Just a joy to be out there with him.”
William Eklund, the seventh overall pick by San Jose in 2021, also had an assist to extend his point streak to four games (three goals, five assists).
“He’s playing the best hockey I’ve seen him play,” Warsofsky said of Eklund. “He’s on a mission. He’s stacking his games together. … We’re seeing Eky really come in right now to who he’s going to be. He’s going to get better and better.”
