The third-period bug came back to bite the Devils yet again. This time, it happened against the lowly Ottawa Senators.
The Senators, who finished last in the NHL last season and entered Wednesday as one of just four teams with fewer points than the Devils, erased a one-goal third-period deficit by scoring the final three goals in regulation for a 4-2 win at Prudential Center in Newark.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the game-winning goal — his second of the night — when he punched in a shot with 2:01 left in regulation after Nick Paul hit the right post. Pageau added an empty netter to complete the hat trick with an empty netter at 19:34.
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A low-event game saw the Senators break through for game-tying goal with 6:30 left in regulation. Mark Borowiecki took a shot from the far side of the left circle, which deflected off Devils defenseman Matt Tennyson and past Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.
Blackwood made a diving glove save at the right post minutes later to maintain the 2-2 tie, but it was a moot point.
The Devils didn’t show any sign of fatigue starting their first home following a long road trip in the Western Conference, and for the second straight game, Wayne Simmonds opened the scoring.
Simmonds broke free on a breakaway after Devils center Nico Hischier blocked a shot in the defensive zone, allowing Miles Wood to chip the puck ahead to Simmonds behind the Senators defense.
Simmonds dragged the puck to the outside of the right post before snapping a shot past a lunging Craig Anderson in goal for Ottawa. His third goal of the year came at 4:19 of the first period.
The Devils built a hefty shot advantage while scoring that first goal, but the Senators provided a counterpunch later in the frame. Following a long stretch in the Devils’ defensive zone, Pageau found a hole between Blackwood’s left skate and the right post, tying the game at 1-1 at 14:54.
But Butcher provided another go-ahead goal less than three minutes later, capitalizing off a big rebound to set up a dangerous shot.
Devils forward Blake Coleman hit Nikita Gusev in the high slot for a one-timer, and Anderson steered the puck to the left wall. Butcher scooped it there before skating into the left circle and propelling a wrister off Anderson’s shoulder and under the crossbar for his second goal at 17:52.
The teams combined for just 16 shots in a scoreless second period, with the Senators holding a 9-7 edge. Both sides were credited with six scoring chances apiece, keeping the game 2-1 Devils through 40 minutes.
Next up
The Devils will welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins to Newark for another home game at 7 p.m. on Friday at Prudential Center. New Jersey will cap off its week with a road game against the Montreal Canadiens at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
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