Nedeljkovic, Larkin lead Red Wings past Devils 5-2
Oct 15, 2022, 7:02 AM | Updated: 9:12 pm
Detroit Red Wings goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) and Ben Chiarot celebrate after the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Newark, N.J. The Red Wings won 5-2. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Alex Nedeljkovic had 37 saves and Dylan Larkin had a goal and two assists, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.
Ben Chiarot and Jakub Vrana each had a goal and an assist in Detroit’s second straight win to begin the season. David Perron and Dominik Kubalik also scored.
The Red Wings beat Montreal 3-0 on Friday night in their opener.
“There’s probably some things within our game that led to too many quality looks again with Ned bailing us out,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said, “but for the most part, we’re doing the right thing on keeping it out of our net with the mentality before putting it in the net.”
Dougie Hamilton had a goal and an assist for New Jersey. Miles Wood also scored.
Hamilton opened the scoring 4:45 into the first. He settled a pass from Jesper Bratt and ripped one from the blue line for his first goal of the season.
Detroit responded early in the second.
Goals by Chiarot and Vrana lifted the Red Wings to a 2-1 lead. Chiarot scored on a shot from the blue line off a pass from Larkin. Lucas Raymond and Chiarot assisted on Vrana’s goal at 4:34.
After Wood scored 10 seconds later for New Jersey, Detroit went ahead to stay with two more second-period goals. Perron made it 3-2 at 17:02, and Larkin scored a short-handed goal in the final second after Devils goaltender Vitek Vancek lost his stick.
“I actually didn’t know how much time was left, so thankfully I shot it,” Larkin said.
Devils coach Lindy Ruff said Larkin’s goal was a big blow.
“That’s really kind of a dagger when you put all that into that period and you give that up late,” he said.
New Jersey was booed off the ice in its home opener after 40 minutes. The Devils also lost 5-2 at Philadelphia on Thursday night.
It was the second chorus of boos from Devils fans at a packed Prudential Center directed at its own team. The first were for Ruff during introductions.
“We got passionate fans here. They’re used to winning,” Ruff said. “That’s a part of my business. I mean, that’s a part of my job. I take full responsibility for when this team loses.”
Kubalik made it 5-2 10:55 into the third.
Vanacek had 16 saves in his Devils debut. He spent the first part of his career with Washington, and then signed a three-year contract with New Jersey in the offseason.
Nedeljkovic is expected to split time with Ville Husso for Detroit this season, at least to start.
INJURIES
Devils captain Nico Hischier returned to the lineup after missing the last few weeks with an ankle injury. “First game of the year, so still kind of finding my timing a bit, but I go out there, battle hard, so that’s what I’m trying to do, but definitely did feel better,” Hischier said. … Detroit’s Tyler Bertuzzi left 4:05 into the second after blocking a shot. Lalonde said it was an upper-body injury, and Bertuzzi would be reevaluated Monday.
UP NEXT
Red Wings: Host Los Angeles on Monday night.
Devils: Host Anaheim on Tuesday night.
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