National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
New Jersey 5, Ottawa 2
When: 7:30 PM ET, Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Referees: Dennis LaRue, Trent Knorr
Linesmen: Michel Cormier, Brian Murphy
Attendance: 14032


Devils 5, Senators 2: Jaromir Jagr moved into sole possession of eighth place on the NHL career goal-scoring list as host New Jersey matched a season-high total to end a string of four straight defeats at the hands of Ottawa.

Defenseman Eric Gelinas and Damien Brunner each had a goal and an assist and Reid Boucher registered his first career tally as the Devils avenged a 5-2 loss in Ottawa on Oct. 17. Stephen Gionta scored his first goal of the season in his return from injury and Martin Brodeur turned aside 23 shots to halt a personal four-game skid against the Senators.

Jagr's score turned out to be the deciding tally, moving him past Gordie Howe for the most game-winning goals in history with 122. Colin Greening and Milan Michalek scored power-play goals and Robin Lehner made 28 saves for Ottawa, which hasn't won consecutive contests since a three-game streak from Nov. 5-9.

Gionta made a triumphant return to the lineup after missing the previous 11 games, scoring short-handed 2:02 into the contest when he finished off a 2-on-1 with Adam Henrique. Boucher doubled the lead 10 minutes later when Gelinas' slapper caromed off the end boards and left him with an open net on the rebound.

Jagr scored his first-power play goal of the season and his 693rd career tally at 2:08 of the second period to surpass Steve Yzerman for No. 8 on the all-time list before Greening tipped a shot over Brodeur's shoulder just over three minutes later. Brunner scored for the fourth time in four games with 28 seconds left in the period to restore the three-goal edge and Gelinas answered 45 seconds after Michalek scored midway through the third.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Jagr, who snapped an eight-game goalless drought and extended his points streak to five games, needs one goal to tie Mark Messier for seventh on the career list. ... Ottawa became the first team this season to score two power-play goals in New Jersey, which entered with a league-best penalty kill of 93.3 percent on home ice. ...Devils F Ryane Clowe, who has been sidelined since suffering a concussion on Oct. 13, said he hopes to return to the lineup Friday.
Top Game Performances
 
Ottawa   New Jersey
Erik Karlsson 2 Points Damien Brunner 2
Colin Greening 1 Goals Damien Brunner 1
Erik Karlsson 2 Assists Patrik Elias 2
Colin Greening 1 Power Play Goals Jaromir Jagr 1
N/A Short Handed Goals Stephen Gionta 1
Robin Lehner .848 Save Percentage Martin Brodeur .920
Robin Lehner 28 Saves Martin Brodeur 23
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Ottawa 25 2 2-3 3-4 20 33
New Jersey 33 5 1-4 1-3 18 22
Upcoming Games
  • New Jersey will play their next game at home against Anaheim. The Devils have a W/L % of .429 after a win and .381 after a loss.
  • Ottawa will play their next game at home against Florida. The Senators have a W/L % of .214 after a win and .500 after a loss.