Palmieri’s OT Goal Caps Late Come Back Effort for Devils in 3-2 Win Over Red Wings

Adam Larsson of the Devils is hit by Darren Helm of the Red Wings. Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

EAST HANOVER, NJ – Down 2-0 in the third period, many Devils fans a year ago would have probably turned off their television sets anticipating a loss. However, this year is different. Many players have stepped up in key situations to help New Jersey (15-10-4) grind out points this season.

This time, it was Kyle Palmieri who scored on a beautiful backhand that beat the sprawling goaltender of Detroit (16-8-6) in Jimmy Howard. After a flurry of offensive chances for the Red Wings, Lee Stempniak took the puck in his defensive zone and flipped a beautiful pass to Palmieri who was streaking down the right wing.

The Devils came back from two goals down in the third as Damon Severson and Sergey Kalinin scored to knot the game up at two. New Jersey has now earned at least one point in five straight games and scored three straight goals on Friday night to defeat the Red Wings 3-2 at the Prudential Center.

It was a tough first two periods for the Devils as they had a hard time figuring out the Red Wing’s defense and Howard, despite firing 27 shots on net. Jon Moore had a chance in the middle of the first when he was skating down the middle of the ice on a power-play chance, but he was unable to lift the puck past the right pad of Howard.

Toward the end of the second, Mike Cammalleri had three golden opportunities in front of the Red Wings cage. Unfortunately, his initial shot and the two rebound chances were swallowed up by Howard.

It took a seeing eye puck at the 2:40 mark of the third to finally get the Devils on the board. Severson ripped the puck from the point as there were players from each team blocking Howard’s view before he was beat on the glove side.

New Jersey was one for four on the power-play on Friday night and their lone tally on the man advantage came off a deflection from Kalinin. Palmieri fired a shot from just in front of the blue line and the kareem zipped past Howard’s shoulder.

The goal was initially looked at for high-sticking, but the review in Toronto confirmed it was a legal tough. Then, Detroit challenged that Kalinin interfered with Howard on the play, but video replay showed that was not the case and the goal was upheld.

Corey Schneider made 27 saves for the Devils. His most crucial stop came in overtime when veteran Pavel Datsyuk crashed toward the net with his stick on the puck. Several players came crashing into the New Jersey goaltender, but the puck never quite crossed the goal line.

Center’s Travis Zajac and Adam Henrique remain sidelined with injuries, giving room for the debut of Albany Devil’s byproduct Joseph Blendisi to make his NHL debut against Detroit.

The 38 shots on goal were the most fired by New Jersey thus far this season.

The Devils will next travel to Brooklyn to take on the Islanders (16-8-5) on Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. at the Barclays Center.