SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Interstat) — Jesper Bratt scored twice in a 21-second span during a three-goal third period, powering the New Jersey Devils to a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Monday night at Grand Casino Arena. The Devils halted a four-game losing streak. Dawson Mercer opened the scoring in the first period and Ondrej Palat added two goals, including a third-period tally. Nico Hischier and Dougie Hamilton each had two assists. Ryan Hartman and Marcus Foligno scored for the Wild, who lost for the second time in three games. New Jersey goaltender Jacob Markstrom made 20 saves. The Devils improved to 23-23, while the Wild fell to 26-21. The result defied National Statistical’s pregame projection, which heavily favored Minnesota.

SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Interstat) — Jesper Bratt scored twice in a decisive third period and the New Jersey Devils snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Monday night at Grand Casino Arena. Bratt, named the game’s top star, broke open a tight contest with two goals in a 21-second span early in the final frame, sparking a three-goal outburst that carried the Devils to a much-needed win. Ondrej Palat also scored twice for New Jersey, while Dawson Mercer added a goal and an assist. The Devils, who had been outscored 19-5 during their skid, improved to 23-23. The Wild fell to 26-21. New Jersey goaltender Jacob Markstrom earned the win with 20 saves on 22 shots. Jesper Wallstedt took the loss for Minnesota, stopping 24 of 29. The game was a defensive struggle through two periods. Mercer opened the scoring for New Jersey midway through the first, converting a feed from captain Nico Hischier at 10:07. The Wild responded in the second period when Ryan Hartman deflected a Brock Faber point shot past Markstrom at 6:41, assisted by Marcus Johansson. The Devils regained the lead just over two minutes later. Palat netted his first of the night at 8:52, finishing a passing sequence from Hischier and Jonas Siegenthaler to send New Jersey into the second intermission with a 2-1 edge. The third period began with Minnesota pressing, but a pivotal penalty for interference against Quinn Hughes just 17 seconds in stalled their momentum. The Devils’ power play did not convert, but the sequence seemed to shift the game’s energy. Bratt then took over. At 1:28 of the third, he took a cross-ice pass from Dougie Hamilton and beat Wallstedt with a quick wrist shot, with Jack Hughes earning the secondary assist. Just 21 seconds later, at 1:49, Bratt struck again, tipping a Hamilton point shot past the Minnesota netminder. Brenden Dillon collected the other helper. Palat sealed the victory with his second of the game at 7:39, firing home a Mercer pass to extend the Devils’ lead to 5-1. Minnesota’s Marcus Foligno scored a late power-play goal at 17:41, assisted by Jonas Brodin and Vinnie Hinostroza, but it served only as consolation. The Devils’ key players delivered crucial performances. Bratt finished with two goals and four shots. Hischier orchestrated the offense with two assists, while Hamilton also contributed two helpers from the blue line. The defensive pairing of Dillon and Siegenthaler was instrumental in limiting Minnesota’s top offensive threats, including Kirill Kaprizov, who was held without a point despite five shots. The result defied pregame projections. National Statistical’s game simulator had predicted a 4-2 Minnesota victory, and its ELO rating system gave the Wild a 62.5 percent probability to win. The win provides a positive start to a critical road stretch for New Jersey, which had lost eight of its last nine games entering Monday. The Devils continue their trip against the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday. Minnesota, which had earned points in seven of its last ten games prior to Monday, looks to rebound when it hosts the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. GAME NOTES: The Devils went 0-for-3 on the power play. The Wild were 1-for-2. … New Jersey defenseman Brenden Dillon took a charging penalty that led to Minnesota’s late power-play goal. … The Wild outhit the Devils 31-28. … The teams split their two-game season series, with New Jersey also winning 4-1 at home on Oct. 22. … Announced attendance was 17,954.

Preview: Devils at Wild, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Interstat) — The Minnesota Wild look to solidify their playoff positioning when they host the struggling New Jersey Devils at Grand Casino Arena on Monday night. The Wild (26-20-0) enter with a four-point edge over the Devils (22-23-0) in the overall standings and are seeking consistency after a 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday. Defenseman Quinn Hughes has been a catalyst, recording eight assists in his last five games, including a three-assist performance in that defeat. New Jersey arrives reeling, having lost four of its last five games, including a 4-3 defeat in Winnipeg on Sunday. The Devils’ recent slide includes a 9-0 road loss to the Islanders on Jan. 6. Center Cody Glass, however, is a bright spot. He scored two goals in the loss to the Jets and has three goals in his last two games after a lengthy scoring drought. Minnesota’s offense, powered by Hughes and forward Kirill Kaprizov, will test a New Jersey team that has allowed four or more goals in three of its last four contests. The Wild have won three of their last four at home. The Devils won the previous meeting this season, 4-1 in New Jersey on Oct. 22. To replicate that result, they will need to overcome a back-to-back road set and find defensive stability. According to National Statistical’s game simulator, the projected final score is Minnesota 4, New Jersey 2. For the Wild, this begins a crucial three-game homestand before a lengthy road trip. The Devils continue a four-game road swing that heads to Seattle on Wednesday.