National Hockey League
New Jersey 2, NY Islanders 1
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, January 2, 2020
Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York
Referees: Dan O'Rourke, Justin St. Pierre
Linesmen: Tyson Baker, Ryan Galloway
Attendance: 13917

Nico Hischier scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period, Mackenzie Blackwood made 29 saves and the visiting New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 on Thursday night in Uniondale, N.Y.

P.K. Subban also scored for the Devils, who have won three straight games for the first time this season and are 6-2-1 over their past nine games.

Brock Nelson scored, and Semyon Varlamov made 29 saves for New York, which had won two straight, both on the road at Minnesota and Washington. New York fell to 0-3-1 in its past four home games as it faced New Jersey for the first time this season.

The Devils were without rookie forward Jack Hughes, who sustained an upper-body injury during a win against Boston on Tuesday.

Hischier gave the Devils their 2-1 lead 69 seconds into the third period. Following a faceoff to the left of Varlamov, he controlled the puck off the side boards, drove the net and slid the puck home after eluding the New York goalie.

Hischier has a four-game point streak (three goals, three assists).

Varlamov was starting his third straight game for the first time this season.

The Islanders took a 1-0 lead at 7:33 of the second period during 4-on-4 play when Nelson entered the zone on the rush. He used defenseman Andy Greene for a screen and beat Blackwood with a wrist shot from the top of the right circle for his second goal in two games and 15th of the season.

Subban tied it with a one-timer from the point with 87 seconds left in the second period off a pass from Nikita Gusev.

Both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
New Jersey   NY Islanders
Nico Hischier 1 Points Brock Nelson 1
Nico Hischier 1 Goals Brock Nelson 1
Nikita Gusev 1 Assists Derick Brassard 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Mackenzie Blackwood .967 Save Percentage Semyon Varlamov .935
Mackenzie Blackwood 29 Saves Semyon Varlamov 29
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
New Jersey 31 2 0-2 2-2 6 27
NY Islanders 30 1 0-2 2-2 6 31
Upcoming Games
  • NY Islanders will play their next game on the road against Toronto. The Islanders have a W/L % of .654 after a win and .615 after a loss.
  • New Jersey will play their next game at home against Colorado. The Devils have a W/L % of .400 after a win and .360 after a loss.