NHL Games: Devils Edge Senators in Overtime Thriller – Playoff Implications

Devils Secure Overtime Victory Against Senators in Nail-Biting NHL Game

NEWARK, N.J. – The New Jersey Devils defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-3 in overtime on Sunday at Prudential Center, a game packed with playoff implications. Nico Hischier scored the decisive goal at 3:18 of the extra frame, securing the win for New Jersey.

Hischier’s winning goal came on the power play, deftly poking the puck past Ottawa goalie James Reimer after an initial shot by Jack Hughes was deflected. “I think my stick was somewhere tangled up in there and luckily that’s where the puck was too,” Hischier explained. “I was able to get a piece of it.”

Game Highlights & Key Performances

Nico Hischier: Two goals and an assist, including the overtime winner.
Dawson Mercer: A goal and an assist for the Devils.
Jack Hughes: Two assists, showcasing his playmaking ability.
Nico Daws: Made 27 saves in his second start of the season.
Michael Amadio, Shane Pinto, and Fabian Zetterlund: Each scored a goal for the Senators.

The Senators, despite the loss, have been on a strong run, going 4-0-1 in their past five games and remaining just one point behind the Boston Bruins with one game left to play. However, this loss dropped them to the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Second Period Surge for Ottawa

The Senators mounted a comeback in the second period, scoring three consecutive goals to take a 3-2 lead. Michael Amadio opened the scoring for Ottawa, followed by goals from Shane Pinto on the power play and Fabian Zetterlund. However, the Devils responded with resilience.

“In the second, they outbattled us and outcompeted us,” Hischier admitted. “And that should sting a little bit. We wanted to come out with a little pride and play for the logo, and play for (the fans) that showed up.”

Short-Handed Goals and Late-Game Drama

The game featured two short-handed goals. Connor Brown scored for the Devils, while Dawson Mercer tied the game at 3-3 with a breakaway goal in the third period. The back-and-forth action kept fans on the edge of their seats until Hischier’s overtime winner.

Looking Ahead

Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, the Devils are focused on finishing the season strong. “That game didn’t matter (since we cannot qualify for the playoffs), but it matters … if that makes sense,” Hischier said. “I think it’s very important for us to finish strong this season. We’re not happy where we’re at and we came up way short. It’s just giving something back to our fans, that’s the least we can do.”

Notable Stats:

Drake Batherson of the Senators reached 70 points (32 goals, 38 assists) for the first time in his NHL career.
Jack Hughes has 41 points in 24 games since the 2026 Winter Olympics, the most by any player over that span.
Hischier’s overtime goal was his ninth career, tying him for second in franchise history.

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