Devils Tie It Late and Edge Canadiens in Overtime
Jesper Bratt scored on a breakaway 1:33 into overtime, leading the New Jersey Devils to a 4–3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at Prudential Center on Thursday. Bratt also recorded an assist, while Jack Hughes contributed two assists for the Devils (10–4–0), who remain unbeaten at home this season (6–0–0). Goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped 16 shots.
"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 in that situation, trying to make him believe I'd do one thing and then react to his move."
Timo Meier tied the game with 1:07 remaining in the third period before Bratt sealed the win in overtime. It marked New Jersey’s 10th victory of the season, making them the first team to reach that mark.
"It's nice to get 10 wins, but we want to keep building our game," Meier said. "We know what we're trying to accomplish daily — improving and pushing each other. This was a good game to learn from."
For Montreal, Noah Dobson tallied two assists, and rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes made 24 saves. The Canadiens (9–3–2) had previously won all five of their overtime games this season. Dobes, who had started the season 6–0 with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage, was visibly emotional after the game and blamed himself for the defeat.
Author’s Summary
Jesper Bratt’s overtime goal capped a late comeback as the Devils secured their 10th win, staying undefeated at home and outlasting a resilient Canadiens squad.