Jack Hughes is mentioned so persistently when the discussion turns to the Latest Jersey Devils that many forget in regards to the other No. 1 overall pick on the team and their captain — Nico Hischier.
Hischier had two goals and an assist, including the second-fastest tally to start out an out of doors game, and Devils never looked back in beating the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3 Saturday night before 70,328 fans at MetLife Stadium.
Nathan Bastian also scored twice and Tyler Toffoli and Brendan Smith each had a goal because the Devils won for the third time in 4 games.
Nico Daws made 43 saves within the event that kicked off two consecutive days of hockey at the house of the NFL’s Jets and Giants.
The Devils third win in 4 games moved them two points behind Detroit within the race for the second wild card within the Eastern Conference and five behind the Flyers for the third place within the Metropolitan Division.
“That was a team we’re chasing. Everybody was able to play,” Hischier said. “We were all business.”
Owen Tippett scored twice and Nick Seeler added one other for the Flyers, who were 4-0-1 of their previous five games and lost within the so-called four-point game with the playoff chase with the regular season winding all the way down to its final two months. Samuel Ersson made 33 saves in the competition that featured a Stadium Series-record 85 shots.
“At the tip of the day, he’s the backbone of this team,” Daws said. “I believe he really makes us go. You understand, all of us respect him a lot. H’s a fantastic leader, and, that’s nice to see him get rewarded with a few goals.”
That is the primary time the NHL’s Stadium Series may have games on consecutive days with fans. The Islanders and Rangers play Sunday afternoon in one other Metropolitan Division rivalry game.
After watching a Jonas Brothers concert and a stirring national anthem by saxophonist Jake Clemons, some fans weren’t settled of their seats before Ondrej Palat sprung Hischier for a backhander between Ersson’s pads at 32 seconds.
“It was great to get that start, Nico that goal,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “In the event that they beat us they’re almost out of reach. We would have liked this win.”
The fastest goal in the beginning of an out of doors game was scored by Colby Armstrong of the Penguins 21 seconds into the primary official Winter Classic game in 2008 against the Sabres in Buffalo, Ruff, whose sixty fourth birthday was Saturday, was the pinnacle coach of Sabres in that game.
Toffoli stretched the result in 2-0 with 6:30 left within the period, putting within the rebound of Smith’s shot.
Tippett cut the result in 2-1, beating Daws 7:43 into the second period, a session the Flyers outshot Latest Jersey 24-15 but were outscored 2-1.
Smith got his second of the season, putting within the rebound of Palat’s shot arrange by Hischier with 3:24 left for a 3-1 lead. Bastian stretched the margin to a few goals with a shot from the best circle 1:12 later for his fourth of the 12 months.
Tippett s cored on an influence play for his twenty first with 1:37 left within the second but Hischier t allied his 18th early within the third for a 5-2 lead.
The old record for shots in an out of doors game was 80, which was done twice, the last time in 2019 in a game at Lincoln Financial between the Flyers and Penguins.
“We had some breakdowns and a few opportunities to attain,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “We didn’t rating and so they did. They were the higher team.”
In line with the tradition of the outdoor games, the teams showed up on the stadium in appropriate costumes for his or her areas.
Philadelphia selected a ‘Rocky’ theme, wearing gray sweats, stocking caps and having their hands taped for a fight. Latest Jersey dressed because the “Sopranos,” arriving in shiny sweats, golf chains and T-shirts. Timo Meier even had a cappuccino cup.
This was the fortieth NHL outdoor game, and third this season. Edmonton beat Calgary 5-2 within the Heritage Classic on Oct. 29, and Seattle beat Vegas 3-0 within the Winter Classic on Jan. 1.