Here are some observations from the game:
• Both Johnathan Kovacevic and Evgenii Dadonov returned to the lineup. For Kovacevic, it marked his season debut after off-season surgery on his knee.
Kovacevic played 18:14 and had an assist while Dadonov played 10:00.
“It’s obviously so great,” Kovacevic said of being able to return. “To finish the game, be healthy and be in one piece. Just on a personal note, that was amazing to feel that feeling of playing again.”
• The Jets opened the scoring off a fortunate bounce late in their power play. But just 37 seconds later, the Devils delivered the ideal response, answering right back to ensure the game headed into the second period tied.
Jesper Bratt, positioned near the blue line, slid a short pass to Luke Hughes along the wall. Hughes carried the puck down the side before firing a sharp-angle shot from near the bottom of the circle. The puck hit Connor Hellebuyck out front, and amid a crowded crease, Nico Hischier pounced on the rebound in the blue paint, left untouched by Jets forward Mark Scheifele.
• Cody Glass ended a six-game scoreless streak with a two-goal performance against his hometown team.
• Luke Hughes had a two-assist outing, both primary assists, in his 200th NHL game.
• The Devils had a new look to their power play, with the return of Evgenii Dadonov to the lineup. Dadonov played on the second unit, where Luke Hughes, Jack Hughes, Cody Glass, and Arseny Gritsyuk made up the group, while Simon Nemec quarterbacked the first unit with Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, and Dawson Mercer.
• Jonas Siegenthaler had a goal come off the board when what would have been the 3-2 go-ahead goal was called back for goaltender interference.
There was a collision between Paul Cotter and Dylan Samberg to Hellebuyk’s glove side, and Cotter was tied up with Hellebuyk as the puck popped out to Siegenthaler at the top of the right circle.
“I didn’t get an exact explanation,” Keefe said. “But what I believe they’re looking at there is Cotter’s foot kind of getting in the way of their goalie’s ability to come back across the crease, so, those are tough ones. But those are kind of the margins.”
Siegenthaler had an open net to shoot at, but once the Jets called for a review, the refs came back with a goaltender interference call, and the goal was taken off the board.
• In attendance for the game were Patrick Fischer and Lars Weibel of the Swiss Olympic national team. It was an opportunity for the two to get an in-person view of four members of the upcoming Swiss national team. The Devils have three of those Olympians, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Jonas Siegenthaler, while the Jets’ Nino Niederreiter will also represent Switzerland at the Milan Cortina Games.