NEWARK, NJ — On Thursday night at the Prudential Center, the New Jersey Devils executed one of those dramatic hockey comebacks that keep fans on the edge of their seats, with a 4-3 overtime win over the Montréal Canadiens.
With just 1:33 into the extra frame of OT, Jesper Bratt skated in on a turnover and snapped home the winner, delivering the Devils a crucial home ice flourish.
“I just tried to read the goalie’s movement and felt like I came in with a lot of speed,” Bratt said. “I felt pretty comfortable in that situation to try to make him believe I’d do one thing, and just try to read what the goalie was doing.”
The night got off to a sharp start. In the first period, about one minute and 53 seconds of the way in, Cody Glass, returning from a seven-game absence due to injury, struck from the left circle to give New Jersey an early 1-0 lead.
But Montréal answered swiftly: Noah Dobson’s shot from the point deflected off Kirby Dach beat Devils goalie Jacob Markström just over a minute later.
In the second period, Ondřej Palát fired home his first goal of the season, putting the Devils up 2-1.
Yet the Canadiens weren’t done. At the 18:53 mark of the third period, Jake Evans tied the game, and later Oliver Kapanen back-handed in a rebound to make it 3-2 Montréal with 9:27 remaining. Then, with less than two minutes left, Timo Meier pounced on a goal-mouth scramble to knot it up at 3-3 and send it to OT.
Enter Bratt, who stole the puck at the Devils’ blue line from the Montréal breakout and raced in alone, beating the keeper with a sleek backhand to seal the victory and keep the Devils unbeaten at home this season (6-0-0).
What Stood Out
New Jersey showed resilience when it mattered most. From giving up the lead in the third to tying it with pressure mounting, to ending it in OT—that’s the kind of character-win many teams chase.
The Devils improved to 10-4-0 on the year with their 4-3 OT win over the Canadiens Thursday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey – Image Credit: NHL
On the flip side, Montréal once again found themselves in overtime for the fourth straight game, and their defensive lapse at a critical moment cost them dearly.
Looking Ahead
The Devils’ injury monitoring will be key defenseman Dougie Hamilton who exited early in the second period with an undisclosed issue. For the Canadiens, the message is clear: tighten up when it matters. Turnovers at the wrong times are unforgiving.
This was more than just a win, it was a statement. In high-stakes moments, this Devils group showed they can respond, rally, and deliver. And at home, in front of their fans, they’re making The Rock a place where games are won, not surrendered.
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