Kraken can’t cool off Devils in 3-1 road loss

NEWARK, N.J. — Dougie Hamilton scored two power-play goals and the New Jersey Devils continued to roll despite playing without Jack Hughes for the first time this season, posting a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night.

Mackenzie Blackwood, making only his fifth start since Dec. 23, was outstanding, making 34 saves as New Jersey improved to 10-1-1 in its last 12 games. Ondrej Palat had the primary assist on Hamilton’s goals and defenseman John Marino scored into an empty net with 1:11 to play.

Defenseman Adam Larsson scored for Seattle and goaltender Philipp Grubauer made 24 saves in losing to New Jersey for the first time in six career decisions.

Hughes, who leads the Devils with 35 goals and 32 assists, is being listed as week to week with an upper-body injury. He played Monday in a win over Vancouver.

While New Jersey gave up a lot of chances and didn’t generate as much without him, the Devils’ power play was the difference. Surprisingly, the two extra-man goals came against a Kraken team that came into the game riding a franchise-record eight-game run without giving up a power-play goal.

Hamilton’s winner came with 10 minutes to play. His shot from near the blue line was deflected by Brandon Tanev, and Grubauer never had a chance.

There were two goals in the first two periods, and they came 24 seconds apart.

Larsson, a first-round pick of the Devils in 2011, opened the scoring for Seattle at 14:05 of the second period with a shot from the right point that hit the stick of New Jersey forward Miles Wood.

Hamilton tied the game at 14:29 with a straight-on shot from just above the top of the circles for his 14th goal. It came seven seconds after Kraken defenseman Will Borgen was penalized.

The Kraken also played without their top scorer. Andre Burakovsky is week to week with a lower-body injury sustained earlier this week.

NOTES

Hamilton now has a career-high 51 points, one more than he had with Calgary in 2016-17. With Hughes sidelined, Erik Haula centered the second line for Yegor Sharangovich and Fabian Zetterlund, and Dawson Mercer moved from the wing to center the third line. … The Devils also scratched D Brendon Smith with an injury. … Seattle activated D Justin Schultz off the IL earlier in the day. F Daniel Sprong got a spot in the lineup with Burakovsky out.

UP NEXT

Kraken finish New York-area swing playing the Rangers on Friday night. It’s part of a five-game trip.

DEVILS 3, KRAKEN 1

Seattle 0 1 0—1

New Jersey 0 1 2—3

First Period—None.

Second Period—1, Seattle, Larsson 5 (Dunn, Wennberg), 14:05. 2, New Jersey, Hamilton 14 (Palat, Tatar), 14:29 (pp).

Third Period—3, New Jersey, Hamilton 15 (Palat, Bratt), 10:00. 4, New Jersey, Marino 4 (Haula, Hischier), 18:49 (en).

Shots on Goal—Seattle 12-13-10—35. New Jersey 8-13-6—27.

Power-play opportunities—Seattle 0 of 3; New Jersey 2 of 4.

Goalies—Seattle, Grubauer 5-9-2 (26 shots-24 saves). New Jersey, Blackwood 7-4-2 (34-33).

A—15,697 (16,514). T—2:25.

Referees—Kevin Pollock, Kyle Rehman. Linesmen—Devin Berg, Kilian McNamara.