How NJ Devils' Nico Hischier felt about NHL All-Star snub

WASHINGTON — Capitals forward T.J. Oshie was named an All-Star as the Metropolitan Division’s winner of the Last Men In fan vote on Saturday night, but it was Nico Hischier who played like an All-Star in the New Jersey Devils’ 5-1 win over Oshie and the Caps at Capital One Arena.

Hischier scored twice, Blake Coleman scored shorthanded once and nearly made it twice on the same penalty kill, and Nikita Gusev and Miles Wood each scored as well. Louis Domingue made his first start in net since Dec. 13 and recorded 33 saves. 

New Jersey halted its streak of three straight losses to earn their first win in Washington since 2016 in an impressive showing against the top team in the NHL. 

"Washington is a really good team and we felt like we stole it," interim coach Alain Nasreddine said. "The guys earned it and we deserved it, so it’s nice that the message is getting through. They believe in it. They know if we’re going to play that way we’re going to find success and tonight is a great example." 

How they won

A lot of the defensive zone miscues and structural issues from the previous three games were cleaned up in Washington. It was the Devils who maintained their structure and discipline while the Capitals struggled to contain New Jersey during a three-goal third period. 

Hischier took advantage of blown defensive coverage for his first goal 5:27 into the game. He drove to the net with Richard Panik trailing behind him and fired one past goalie Braden Holtby. Hischier made it 4-0 at 12:11 after jumping on to the ice for a shift and finishing off a cross-ice feed from Kyle Palmieri. 

"I was hoping Palms was going to see me there," Hischier said. "He saw me, so it was a great pass." 

This came a few minutes after Jakub Vrana picked up a rebound and hit an open net on the power play to cut the Devils lead to 3-1 at 8:28. Washington had a four-minute power play after Miles Wood cut Panik’s face with a high stick. But the power play started off in favor of the killing team with Travis Zajac setting up Coleman on a breakaway at 6:48. Coleman nearly had scored on another shorthanded breakaway attempt on the same shift but Holtby made the save. 

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"We find a way to generate," Coleman said. "It seems like every game now we're getting a 2-on-1 or a good look. Trav puts me in great spots and I want two of those back. Could have been a pretty damaging five-minute span there had I been able to capitalize. But I think when you're skating like that, you're gonna get chances, and the more time you spend out of your zone, the better."

Gusev made it 2-0 just 3:28 into the second when he caught a rebound from a Will Butcher shot out wide and hammered it home.

The Devils prevented Washington from generating much of anything 5-on-5. The Caps’ best chance came late in the third period with a 5-on-3 power play. With some help from Domingue, New Jersey killed it off with relative ease.

"The game was by no means over and that was really a big-time penalty kill," Nasreddine said.

Wood took advantage of an aggressive goalie pull and put it into an empty net off the draw with 4:56 left. 

Nico's night

Hischier is admittedly a little disappointed about missing the NHL All-Star Game. The third-year pro wanted a trip to St. Louis alongside linemate Kyle Palmieri. He would happily take Oshie's spot to allow the family to go on vacation.

But it doesn't quite sting that much since the Devils are playing so well right now. He's only 21 so he'll have other chances. 

"Growing up as a kid, you watch the All-Star Game," he said. "But for me, I'm living my dream already playing in the NHL, so it would be something. Yeah, of course I would be happy and it would be something nobody could take away from you. But I'm still gonna watch it. I'm not saying I'm sad that I'm not going, but it would be cool for sure." 

Hischier has seven goals and five assists in 14 games since Taylor Hall was traded. He’s scored nine times since the start of December. This was his first multi-goal effort of the season and his first since Feb. 2, against the Montreal Canadiens and the fifth two-goal game of his career. 

"It feels like the puck's going in, so I just try to keep shooting it," Hischier said. "Sometimes you get lucky bounces, too. I feel confident right now to make plays, to take the puck to the net. That's probably what was missing a little bit earlier in the year. Try not to get too high.

"I know I'm not gonna score two goals every game, but what I can do is I can bring the team every game something that helps the team win or helps the team make a good game, and it doesn't always have to be scoring goals." 

NJ Devils:How interim coach Alain Nasreddine has changed the Devils

What’s next

The Devils return home Sunday to host the Tampa Bay Lightning at Prudential Center. The Lighting beat the Flyers in Philadelphia on Saturday night, 1-0. The Devils then play their next three games on the road before the bye week and the All-Star break. 

Abbey Mastracco is the Devils beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Devils analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app. 

Email: mastraccoa@northjersey.com Twitter: @abbeymastracco