Penguins vs Devils: New Jersey stays perfect at home, edges Pittsburgh 2–1 in shootout
The Metropolitan Division lead changed hands on Saturday as the Devils beat the Penguins 2–1 in a shootout at Prudential Center, extending their pristine home start to 7–0–0. A measured, playoff-style game swung on goaltending and details, and New Jersey found the final touch in the skills contest to bank the extra point.
How the game was won
After 65 minutes solved nothing, Paul Cotter delivered the decisive strike in the shootout, snapping a low, confident finish that finally cracked Pittsburgh’s resistance. Jake Allen handled the rest, turning aside the Penguins in the tiebreaker after a standout night in regulation and overtime.
The path there was tight. Arseny Gritsyuk opened the scoring late in the first with a sharp, unassisted effort that sent New Jersey to intermission up 1–0. Pittsburgh answered midway through the second when Ryan Graves jumped into the rush and beat Allen cleanly to level it 1–1. The third period featured disciplined, five-on-five chess rather than firewagon chances; the best looks came off counterattacks and net-front scrums, and both goalies were equal to them.
Goaltending duel defines the night
Allen’s calm rebound control and angles carried New Jersey through a cagey final half hour, culminating in a spotless overtime and shootout. At the other end, Pittsburgh’s netminder matched him save for save, especially during a prolonged Devils push early in the third that produced multiple grade-A looks but no breakthrough.
Special teams and details
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Discipline: Whistles were sparse, and neither power play found the game-breaker. With so few man-advantages, five-on-five execution became everything.
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Shot quality over volume: Pittsburgh owned stretches of zone time, but New Jersey limited east-west seams and kept most attempts to the outside, protecting the middle of the ice.
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Puck management: Both clubs favored conservative exits and short support through the neutral zone; turnovers were rare and immediately smothered.
What it means in the Metro
The result nudges the Devils into sole possession of first place and underscores how formidable they’ve been in Newark. Banking early home wins builds cushion for the grind ahead—and Saturday’s blueprint (structure, patience, elite goaltending) is repeatable in March and April.
For the Penguins, the road point still matters. They went stride-for-stride with a top rival in a low-event game, found a timely equalizer, and defended the slot well. In a division likely decided by razor-thin margins, scraping a point away from home keeps the math healthy.
Three stars (informal)
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Jake Allen (NJD): Rock-solid night capped by a perfect shootout.
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Paul Cotter (NJD): Delivered the only tally that counted after 65:00.
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Ryan Graves (PIT): Jumped into the play for the Penguins’ lone goal and logged heavy, responsible minutes.
Inside the numbers
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Scoring: NJD — Gritsyuk (1st); PIT — Graves (2nd).
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Even-strength control: The slot stayed clogged; rush chances decided momentum more than cycle pressure.
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Overtime: Methodical, with both teams prioritizing puck security over risky line changes.
What’s next
The season series shifts to Pennsylvania in the new year before returning to Newark in April. If Saturday is the template, expect more chess than chaos: disciplined entries, net-front battles, and goaltenders comfortable living on a knife’s edge. For now, New Jersey keeps the house perfect and the perch atop the division—and Pittsburgh leaves with proof it can push the Metro leader to the final shot.
