National Hockey League
New Jersey 3, Boston 2
When: 1:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Referees: Reid Anderson, Dan O'Rourke
Linesmen: Scott Cherrey, Kory Nagy
Attendance: 16514

Defenseman Damon Severson scored the winning goal in the sixth round of the shootout Tuesday afternoon as the host New Jersey Devils skated to a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins in Newark, N.J.

Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood and Bruins netminder Jaroslav Halak each stopped the first four shots of the shootout before rookie Jack Hughes scored for New Jersey. Chris Wagner answered with a goal to extend the game for Boston before Severson's backhanded shot sailed high into the net.

Blackwood stopped Patrice Bergeron with a glove save to preserve the Devils' second straight win and extend their point streak to four games (3-0-1), which ties a season high. New Jersey has the second-fewest points in the NHL.

Blake Coleman and Jesper Bratt scored and Blackwood made 28 saves for the Devils, who trailed 2-0 early in the second period.

Brad Marchand and Joakim Nordstrom scored and Halak recorded 42 saves for the Bruins, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end while extending their point streak to eight games (4-0-4).

The Bruins took the lead on a power-play goal just 2:03 after the opening faceoff. David Pastrnak's slap shot from the right faceoff circle was deflected by Blackwood and trickled into the crease, where the puck might have fluttered into the back of the net. Marchand alertly shoveled it home his 20th goal of the season.

The Bruins doubled their lead following a chaotic sequence at 4:27 of the second period. Sean Kuraly got two shots, one in a wraparound and the next on a rebound, before the puck bounced in the crease for Nordstrom to knock it past Blackwood.

The Devils got on the scoreboard at the 8:58 mark of the second when Coleman took a pass from Nikita Gusev and fired a shot past Halak, who was screened by teammate Jeremy Lauzon as well as New Jersey's Travis Zajac.

The Devils forced overtime with 6:49 left in the third. Bratt, who was jostling for position in front of the net with Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, redirected a shot from the blue line by defenseman P.K. Subban.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Boston   New Jersey
Brad Marchand 1 Points Jesper Bratt 1
Brad Marchand 1 Goals Jesper Bratt 1
Brandon Carlo 1 Assists Nikita Gusev 1
Brad Marchand 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Jaroslav Halak .955 Save Percentage Mackenzie Blackwood .933
Jaroslav Halak 42 Saves Mackenzie Blackwood 28
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Boston 30 2 1-3 4-4 8 23
New Jersey 44 3 0-4 2-3 6 23
Upcoming Games
  • New Jersey will play their next game on the road against NY Islanders. The Devils have a W/L % of .357 after a win and .360 after a loss.
  • Boston will play their next game at home against Columbus. The Bruins have a W/L % of .720 after a win and .375 after a loss.