Jonathan Marchessault spoiled the Devils’ fresh start after a day of change with a stunning third-period performance.
Marchessault netted three consecutive goals in the final period, completing a hat trick and lifting the Vegas Golden Knights to a 4-3 comeback win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night, just hours after the Devils fired head coach John Hynes.
After trailing 2-1, Marchessault struck twice in the first five minutes of the third to put the Golden Knights ahead 3-2. He capped off his impressive night with a power-play goal, giving Vegas a 4-2 lead. The Golden Knights held firm even after New Jersey’s Nico Hischier scored 20 seconds later.
The victory marked the fourth straight win for the Golden Knights, improving their record to 15-11-4.
“It’s fun,” said Marchessault. “We hadn’t had a streak like this all year, so getting on a roll is great.”
Malcolm Subban, filling in for Marc-Andre Fleury, who is away due to a family illness, made 32 saves. Newly acquired forward Chandler Stephenson also contributed with a goal in his Vegas debut after being traded from the Washington Capitals.
The Devils’ Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 26 shots, while Kyle Palmieri and Jesper Bratt scored goals for New Jersey.
The game followed major changes for the Devils, as Hynes was fired earlier in the day following a disappointing 9-13-4 start. Assistant Alain Nasreddine was named interim head coach, while Peter Horachek joined the staff as an assistant.
“Tonight is a new beginning,” said Nasreddine. “We had the lead going into the third, but it was more about what we did and what we didn’t do. No excuses.”
The firing came after a string of poor performances, including a 7-1 loss to Buffalo the previous night and a 4-0 defeat to the New York Rangers.
Subban, who has stepped up in Fleury’s absence, expressed confidence after his second consecutive win. “It’s been huge. You get a couple of wins, and you feel better about yourself and your game,” he said.
New Jersey took an early 1-0 lead when Palmieri scored in the first period after a fast-break attempt by struggling forward Taylor Hall was stopped by Subban. The Devils outshot the Golden Knights 17-7 in the opening period.
Vegas tied it early in the second period when Alex Tuch set up Stephenson for a goal. “That’s what he does,” said Vegas coach Gerard Gallant of Stephenson. “He’s played that role before, and he scored a huge goal for us tonight.”
Bratt regained the lead for the Devils later in the second, but a coach’s challenge for goalie interference was unsuccessful after the referees ruled that Hall was pushed into the crease by Paul Stastny.
Game Notes
- No. 1 overall pick Jack Hughes missed his third consecutive game for New Jersey with a lower-body injury. He is day-to-day.
- Devils defenseman Connor Carrick remained sidelined, and defenseman Mirco Mueller and center John Hayden were scratched.
- Vegas scratched defenseman Nick Holden and center Cody Eakin.
UP NEXT
- Golden Knights: Visit the New York Islanders on Thursday.
- Devils: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.
