CHICAGO (AP) — Dougie Hamilton, Erik Haula, Jesper Boqvist and Timo Meier each had a goal and an assist and the New Jersey Devils beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-3 on Saturday night for their second straight victory.
Ryan Graves also scored and Dawson Mercer added a empty-netter for the Devils. They improved to 104 points and remained one behind first-place Carolina in the Metropolitan Division. New Jersey’s leading scorer, 21-year-old Jack Hughes, added two assists
Andreas Athanasiou had a goal and assist for last-place Chicago in its eighth straight loss. Tyler Johnson scored for the third straight game and rookie Lukas Reichel deflected in a goal.
Hamilton, a defenseman, scored his 20th goal to reach that mark for the first time in his 11-year career. Haula connected for the third straight game.
New Jersey backup Mackenzie Blackwood made 14 saves. Chicago’s Alex Stalock stopped 34 shots.
Longtime Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews returned from two-month medical leave of absence.
Toews, 34, took the opening faceoff for Chicago as he appeared in a game for the first time since Jan. 28 at Edmonton. He set up Athanasiou’s goal in the third period.
Toews made a statement through the team Feb. 19 saying he would be stepping away because of the effects of Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and “long COVID.”
Toews was back on the ice with teammates in a practice session on Tuesday, but didn’t commit to returning this season and hinted at retirement. His eight-year, $84 million contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
The Devils outshot the Blackhawks 10-4 in the scoreless first.
Hamilton opened the scoring at 6:19 of the second, blasting in a one-timer of Ondrej Palat’s feed from high in the slot as he trailed in on a rush.
A wide-open Johnson tied it 1-all 85 seconds later, potting his 11th goal from the edge of the crease off Taylor Raddysh’s pass from behind the net.
Reichel put Chicago ahead 2-1 with a deflection at 13:58. Athanasiou raced into the zone on left wing, circled behind the net and back to the the top of the slot. He whipped the puck through a screen from 40 feet and it ticked in off Reichel.
The speedy Devils picked up the pace, and Haula and Boqvist scored just under 3 minutes apart late in the second to put New Jersey ahead for good.
Haula cut through the slot and tied it 2-2 at 15:31 after Meier’s centering pass from behind the net delflected of Stalock’s pad,
With 1:32 left in the period, Boqvist drove to the net, stickhandled through two Chicago defenders and wrapped in a shot.
Graves lifted in a high backhander at 5:17 of the third to make it 4-2.
Athanasiou cut it to 4-3 midway through the third when he tipped in Toews’ feed. Meier wrapped the puck past Stalock with 3:56 left, then Mercer capped it with his empty-net goal.
TOEWS TIDBITS
Toews centered a line with wingers Reese Johnson and Austin Wagner. He got a warm cheer from the crowd when announced in the starting lineup.
NOTEWORTHY
With Toews returning, Blackhawks F MacKenzie Entwistle sat out… New Jersey C Yegor Sharangovich played in his 200th game. … Chicago D Jarred Tinordi (hip) missed his third game, but coach Luke Richardson said he’s close to returning. … The Devils scratched D Brendan Smith and Fs Curtis Lazar and Nathan Bastian.
UP NEXT
Devils: At Winnipeg on Sunday night.
Blackhawks: At Calgary on Tuesday night.
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