Jacob Markstrom provided a game winning performance for the NJ Devils (image credit: IMAGN)
Jacob Markstrom was the savior of the New Jersey Devils as he helped his team to a 3-2 win against the Seattle Kraken on Monday. The Devils goaltender had 21 saves, breaking his two-game losing streak in goal and his team’s four-game skid.
Some of Markstrom’s saves showed his class. A highlight was his save off Eeli Tolvanen from a short-range shot after the Devils took a 3-2 lead. He also pulled off a spectacular kick save on an odd-man rush in the first period.
After the game, he shared his opinion about the saves. There was a sense of relief in him as he acknowledged the losing streak and said that he doesn’t want it to happen again.
“Yeah, pretty blank, to be honest,” Markstrom said to reporters. “It’s, you know, it’s not a fun feeling when you lose a few in a row. I don’t want to revisit that feeling. And this is the last game on the road trip, we needed to win, we needed to get back to winning hockey games and stringing wins together.”
Markstron earned his 20th win this season. His performance on Monday dropped his goals against average to 2.17, which ranks second in the NHL behind Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck. Markstrom has put his name in contention for the Vezina Trophy.
“I’ve had a few bounces that went into the net rather than stay out, so I think I was due,” Markstrom said. “A win is two points. I don’t care how we do it. If I make five or 40 saves, if we win, I’m happy.”
Paul Cotter left ‘speechlees’ by Jacob Markstrom’s saves
Jacob Markstrom earned high praise from his teammates with Devils center Paul Cotter expressing how impressed he was by his performance.
“I was speechless on a couple of (Markstrom’s saves),” Cotter said to reporters after the game. “We’re nowhere near a win without him. I don’t know how. Some of those were ridiculous.”
New Jersey is second in the Metropolitan Divison with 53 points. Even though they have played the most games in the division, they feel comfortable as there is a nine-point gap between the third-ranked Washington Capitals and fourth-ranked Pittsburgh Penguins.