- Arseny Gritsyuk scored in a fifth straight game as the Devils beat the Kings 3-1
- Connor Hellebuyck met the media but did not dress, and his debut date is unclear
- Read below for Brett Pesce’s first goal in 35 games and what Sheldon Keefe said about Hellebuyck
Arseny Gritsyuk scored again.
The Devils winger hit the empty net with 1:05 left Saturday to seal a 3-1 win over the Kings, his fifth straight game with a goal. He also had an assist, which puts him at six goals and nine points through 11 games this season.
Catch the empty-netter from the Devils:
Brett Pesce had the game-winner. He gave New Jersey a 2-1 lead 8:08 into the third period, toe-dragging the puck past Andre Lee off a pass from Luke Evangelista and beating Anton Forsberg low under the pad. It was his first goal in 35 games, dating back to Dec. 23 of last season.
Pesce had a simple explanation for how it happened afterward. “I just kind of blacked out, so it’s not going to happen probably ever again,” he said.
Here’s the goal from our timeline:
Scott Laughton gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead at 15:57 of the second, even though the Kings were outshot 14-3 in the period. Anthony Mantha tied it at 18:43. Jake Allen made 12 saves, and the Devils (7-4-0) swept a three-game homestand.
The other storyline in Newark was a goalie who stayed in his street clothes. Connor Hellebuyck, who arrived in a trade with the Jets on Friday, spoke to reporters before the game but did not dress. He has not played an NHL game this season, and the Devils have not said when he will make his debut.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe was asked about Hellebuyck’s readiness and said the medical team will get a read on where he is. “He’s quite dialed into his plan and where he’s at, and he’s been working incredibly hard,” Keefe said. “It seems like he’s in a really good place.”
Jack Hughes, who won Olympic gold with Hellebuyck for Team USA in February, talked about having him in the room. “He’s one of the best in the League, right?” Hughes said.
New Jersey starts a three-game road trip Tuesday in Dallas. That is the next chance to see Hellebuyck dress, and the Devils haven’t said whether it will be him in net.
