LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The New Jersey Devils defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in a shootout after a 1-1 tie through overtime Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena. Connor Brown opened the scoring for the Devils with a wrist shot midway through the second period. The Golden Knights forced overtime when Pavel Dorofeyev scored with just over 14 minutes remaining in the third, assisted by Mark Stone and Tomas Hertl. Neither team could break the deadlock in overtime, leading to the shootout. New Jersey prevailed in the extra session to secure the road victory. The Devils improved to 18-15-1, while the Golden Knights moved to 16-15-1. Vegas had been a pregame favorite, but the contest finished well below the projected total.

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle that defied pregame projections, the New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights battled to a 1-1 tie through 65 minutes of regulation and overtime before the Devils secured the extra point in a shootout victory on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena. The game, a stark contrast to the high-scoring affair predicted by statistical models, was defined by stellar goaltending and tight checking. New Jersey’s Jake Allen and Vegas’ Carter Hart were the central figures, turning aside chance after chance in a contest where the total of two goals dramatically undershot the over/under line of 5.5. The Devils, who improved to 18-15-1, broke a scoreless deadlock late in the second period. At the 8:50 mark, right wing Connor Brown collected a loose puck and fired a wrist shot past Hart for his eighth goal of the season. The unassisted tally gave New Jersey a 1-0 lead, capitalizing on a period where they began to tilt the ice after a tentative start. Vegas, now 16-15-1, pushed back relentlessly in the third. Their persistence was rewarded during a power play after New Jersey’s Juho Lammikko was called for tripping. With the man advantage, the Golden Knights worked the puck around the perimeter. Mark Stone fed Tomas Hertl at the right circle, who quickly dished across to Pavel Dorofeyev. The left wing snapped a wrist shot from the left faceoff dot that beat Allen cleanly at 5:49 of the third period. The goal, Dorofeyev’s 14th, was assisted by Stone and Hertl. That would be the last puck to find the net in open play. Both teams had opportunities to win it in overtime. Vegas’ Mitch Marner hit the left post on a golden chance during a 4-on-3 power play, while Allen and Hart stood firm otherwise, sending the game to a shootout. In the skills competition, New Jersey’s shooters found success where Vegas’ did not, securing the second point for the visitors. The game’s narrative was set from the outset as a goaltending duel. Hart was particularly busy early, making a series of key saves on New Jersey’s Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt in the first period to keep the game scoreless. Allen was equally sharp at the other end, denying quality chances from Vegas’ Noah Hanifin and Mark Stone. The physical tone was established early by Vegas center Ivan Barbashev, who delivered several punishing hits, including a notable one on Luke Glendening. New Jersey’s Hischier was a force in all facets, leading his team with five shots on goal and contributing physically, while Vegas’ Hertl was a dual threat with an assist, three hits, and key defensive plays, including multiple shot blocks. Special teams were a factor, with Vegas converting on one of five power-play opportunities. New Jersey failed to score on its two chances, including a second-period advantage resulting from a tripping penalty against Marner. The result avenged a 3-0 shutout loss the Devils suffered to the Golden Knights in New Jersey on Dec. 5. It also continued a trend of low-scoring games for the Devils, who have seen four of their last five contests decided by two goals or fewer. Both teams now look ahead to challenging road stretches. The Devils continue their trip Friday against the Utah Mammoth, while the Golden Knights embark on a Western Canada road swing, starting in Calgary on Saturday. The contest, projected by National Statistical’s ELO system to favor Vegas with a 62.5% win probability, instead became a testament to defensive structure and clutch netminding, with the Devils ultimately edging the favored Golden Knights in a nail-biting finish.

Preview: Devils at Golden Knights, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025 LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The New Jersey Devils seek to avenge a shutout loss from earlier this month when they visit the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday night. The Devils (18-15-0) enter having lost two straight, including a 2-1 defeat to Vancouver on Sunday, and are 3-7-0 in their last 10 games. The Golden Knights (16-15-0) have found a steadier rhythm, going 5-3-2 over their last 10 and coming off a 3-2 road win in Columbus on Saturday. Vegas dominated the first meeting this season, blanking New Jersey 3-0 at Prudential Center on Dec. 5. Golden Knights forward Mitchell Marner assisted on one of the goals in that contest and has been a consistent catalyst, recording eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his last nine games. His three-assist performance against the Blue Jackets highlighted his playmaking prowess. New Jersey’s offense, which was silenced in that prior matchup, will look to dynamic defenseman Luke Hughes to spark a different result. Hughes scored the Devils’ lone goal against Vancouver and has points in two of his last three games (two goals, one assist). His offensive involvement from the blue line is critical for a team that has been held to two or fewer goals in four of its last six outings. Both teams are hovering near the .500 mark in a crowded league landscape, making this interconference matchup an important test before the holiday break. The Devils will begin a back-to-back set heading to Utah on Friday, while the Golden Knights open a two-game Western Canada trip in Calgary on Saturday. The game is scheduled for a 10 p.m. EST puck drop.