The New Jersey Devils pulled off an electrifying 4-3 overtime victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday at United Center, thanks to a spectacular hat trick performance by Simon Nemec. The defenseman secured the win just 3:28 into overtime, marking his third goal of the night and delivering one of the most memorable performances of his young career.
Nemec’s Game-Winning Moment
Nemec’s final goal came off a long stretch pass from goalie Jacob Markstrom, who spotted him wide open. After receiving the puck, Nemec rushed into the offensive zone and slipped a glove-side shot past Spencer Knight, sealing the win.
Markstrom praised the defenseman, saying Nemec was “wide open and ready,” adding that the night clearly “belonged to him” as he completed his overtime hat trick.
How the Scoring Unfolded
Nemec, who had tied the game 3-3 late in the third period, now has four goals on the season. Before this week, he had not scored in New Jersey’s first 15 games, but he broke the drought on Monday with a clutch goal against the New York Islanders.
Devils’ Offensive Support
- Jack Hughes notched two assists, contributing to New Jersey’s third win in four games.
- Markstrom made 17 saves and added an assist on the OT winner.
Chicago’s Key Contributions
Chicago rookie Connor Bedard extended:
- His goal streak to four straight games
- His point streak to nine games with 19 total points this season (eight goals, 11 assists)
Bedard opened the scoring with a 5-on-3 power-play one-timer.
Goalie Spencer Knight made 33 saves, while teammates Nick Foligno and Louis Crevier each tallied two assists.
Back-and-Forth Battle in the Third Period
The third period saw multiple rapid shifts in momentum:
| Moment | Team | Player | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-1 Lead | Chicago | Landon Slaggert | Redirected Crevier’s point shot for his first goal of the season |
| 2-2 Tie | New Jersey | Dawson Mercer | One-timer from the left circle off a Hughes pass |
| 3-2 Lead | Chicago | Sam Lafferty | Skated across the slot and scored on a backhand |
| 3-3 Tie | New Jersey | Simon Nemec | Tapped in Noesen’s cross-ice pass |
Injury Concerns for the Devils
New Jersey played much of the matchup without Zack MacEwen and Cody Glass:
- MacEwen exited after a heavy hit from Connor Murphy.
- Glass rejoined briefly in the second period before leaving again.
The Devils did not issue postgame updates on either player.
Coach Keefe Applauds Team Resilience
Devils coach Sheldon Keefe emphasized how proud he was of his team’s persistence, noting that despite trailing several times, New Jersey “controlled the play” and allowed very few quality chances.
He added that the performance was “one of the best games all season” in terms of puck management and offensive pressure.
