Hall's OT goal lifts Devils past Wild
NEWARK, N.J. -- Left winger Taylor Hall scored 29 seconds into overtime and the New Jersey Devils rallied to beat the Minnesota Wild 2-1 on Saturday night at Prudential Center.
Center Adam Henrique drew two defenders to him and slid the puck to Hall, who beat goaltender Devan Dubnyk five-hole for the winner.
Devils goaltender Cory Schneider made 28 saves and made many crucial saves in the final two periods to keep the Devils within a goal.
Right winger PA Parenteau scored midway through the third period to pull the Devils into a 1-1 tie and help force overtime.
Left winger Joel Eriksson Ek scored in his NHL debut for the Wild and Dubnyk stopped 30 shots.
After generating just three shots during a lackluster first period, the Wild put 18 shots on net during the second period and one found the back of the net.
Eriksson Ek's first NHL goal was a soft one, but it put the Wild ahead 1-0 at one-minute of the second period. Left winger Jason Zucker fired a long shot from the left wing boards that fluttered into and out of Schneider's catching glove. Eriksson Ek chipped the loose puck over a fallen Schneider to break the scoreless tie.
After a first period devoid of dangerous chances, both teams had breakaways.
Devils left winger Beau Bennett was denied by Dubnyk on his chance while Wild center Eric Staal's bid to put his team ahead 2-0 was stymied by Schneider's blocker. Left winger Mikael Granlund also had a great chance after turning defenseman Damon Severson inside-out, but Schneider snared the wrist shot with his glove.
Parenteau's second goal of the season came with 8:04 remaining and he seemed to surprise him. He unleashed a slap shot off the rush that deflected off the post and past Dubnyk, resulting in a delayed celebration from Parenteau.
NOTES: The Wild were without two key players, D Jared Spurgeon (upper body) and LW Erik Haula (lower body). Both sustained injuries against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. ... The Wild recalled LW Joel Eriksson Ek from Iowa of the AHL before the game and he made his NHL debut. The 19-year-old was taken in the first round (20th overall) of the 2015 draft. ... The Wild scratched D Mike Reilly. ... Devils C Sergey Kalinin made his season debut after missing the first four games due to an illness. ... The Devils scratched LW Reid Boucher, C Jacob Josefson and D Steven Santini.