Devils outlast Canadiens for victory | GAME STORY

Here are some observations from the game:

• Jack Hughes returned to his dominant form against the Canadiens. He was in full control of his skating and puck possession – including some ankle-breaking juke moves. Hughes danced across the ice, maneuvering the sticks through defenders like they were masts. Hughes finished the night with a crucial goal and set up two more to take three points on the night.

Hughes scored in the third period to give the Devils a 4-2 lead and some breathing room. He and Jesper Bratt fought a 2-on-1 duel. Bratt carried the puck and threw it to Hughes, who was all alone at the goal. Instead of deking or making a move, Hughes drifted close to the crease before firing a shot blocker on the side toward the goal.

Hughes started the night with two key assists in the first period. He picked up the puck along Dougie Hamilton's wall, skated to the middle blue line and then cut down the middle line. As soon as he approached the goal crease, Hughes pushed a backhand pass through three Montreal Canadiens and straight onto the tape of Bratt, who effortlessly hammered it into the net.

Hughes picked up his second first assist after keeping the puck below the goal line and hitting Palat in the penalty spot for a goal.

• Speaking of Palat, a big reason he's on Hughes' line is that he can do the dirty work deep and below the goal line. It was his performance in this category that led to him scoring his first goal. Palat won a puck battle with Montreal's Kaiden Guhle. Palat then passed the puck to Hughes and drifted into the bottom circle. Hughes passed the puck back to him and Palat fired a great shot wide into the net for the equalizer.

• Everyone loves a redemption story and Siegenthaler delivered in that regard. Siegenthaler had the puck above the circle in his own zone at the start of the second period. He had time and space, but his pass in the neutral zone was intercepted, leading to a strange tackle and Montreal's first goal. It was an unforced error.

But a little more than five minutes later, Siegenthaler was able to help prevent the goal with his first goal of the season. As the players battled in the corner, a sea of ​​free ice opened up in the slot. Erik Haula was able to thread a pass from the corner to Siegenthaler in the slot. He fired a shot into the goal to regain the lost goal.

Siegenthaler gives and takes. Repayment.

• This was also Siegenthaler's first goal since December 21, 2023 against Edmonton.

• The Devils PK had another perfect evening with a 2:2. The unit killed while outnumbered 15 times in a row.