Devils Tie Late and Defeat Canadiens in Overtime
Jesper Bratt scored on a breakaway 1:33 into overtime, leading the New Jersey Devils to a 4-3 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens at the Prudential Center in Newark.
Bratt registered both a goal and an assist, while Jack Hughes added two assists for the Devils (10-4-0), who remain undefeated at home this season (6-0-0). Goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 16 saves in the win.
“I just tried to read the goalie’s movement and felt like I came in with a lot of speed,” Bratt said. “I felt comfortable trying to make him guess one way and reacting to his move.”
New Jersey became the first NHL team to reach 10 wins this season. Forward Timo Meier, who tied the game with 1:07 left in regulation, reflected on the team’s mindset.
“It’s nice to get 10 wins, but we want to keep building,” Meier said. “We know what we’re aiming for each day — to improve and push one another. This was a good game to learn from.”
Canadiens’ Effort Falls Short
Noah Dobson recorded two assists, and rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes stopped 24 shots for Montreal (9-3-2). The Canadiens had previously won all five of their overtime games this season.
Dobes, who entered the matchup with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage across six wins, grew emotional during postgame comments, taking responsibility for the loss.
Summary
The Devils’ late rally and Bratt’s overtime heroics preserved New Jersey’s perfect home record and pushed them to their 10th win of the season.
Author’s summary: Bratt’s overtime goal sealed a resilient Devils victory over Montreal, keeping their home streak intact and underscoring the team’s growing confidence.