NEWARK, N.J. — As the New Jersey Devils celebrated their franchise record-tying 13th consecutive victory Monday night, a sold-out home crowd rose to its feet to commemorate the moment.
“I think the team deserves a standing ovation. A run like this is incredible,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said following his team’s 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
The Devils previously won 13 straight games from Feb. 16 to March 23, 2001, a team that would go on to play for the Stanley Cup. Their current streak started Oct. 25 and has fueled New Jersey’s stunning surge to the top of the Metropolitan Division (16-3-0) after finishing 28th in the NHL last season.
“We’re up there [in] the history book. Nobody’s gonna take that from us now,” said captain Nico Hischier, who had three assists in the win. “It proves that we’re a good team. That we can win hockey games. That we don’t have to hide anymore.”
The Devils can set a franchise record for consecutive wins when they meet the Toronto Maple Leafs at home Wednesday night. The all-time NHL record for most consecutive victories is 17 straight, set by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins — a streak that ended with a tie against the Devils in the last game of the regular season.
Monday marked the second time New Jersey has defeated Edmonton during this current win streak; the Devils rallied to beat the Oilers 4-3 in Edmonton on Nov. 3.
New Jersey jumped out to a lead Monday night on winger Jesper Bratt‘s first-period power-play goal, his eighth of the season. Edmonton answered with its own power-play tally from star Leon Draisaitl (11th). But the Devils built a lead they wouldn’t surrender during the second period on goals by center Dawson Mercer — scored thanks to a miscue by Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner — and defenseman Damon Severson, set up by pinpoint passes from Bratt and center Jack Hughes (two assists).
Edmonton pulled within one goal thanks to a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tally at 4:52 of the third period, but the Devils answered back just under 2:15 later as Tomas Tatar gloved his own rebound and then smacked the puck past Skinner. Yegor Sharangovich closed out the scoring after an Oilers turnover at 14:45 of the third.
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