Jake Allen strong in debut as Devils top Stars

Jake Allen made 35 saves in his New Jersey debut and the visiting Devils beat the Dallas Stars 6-2 on Thursday night.

Timo Meier and Chris Tierney each had a goal and an assist for the Devils, who scored three goals in the first 5:12 of the second period.

Allen, acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on Friday, allowed goals on two of the first three shots he faced, but shut out the Stars over the final two periods, making 30 saves.

Wyatt Johnston and Craig Smith scored for the Stars, who have lost two in a row after winning five straight. Oettinger was pulled after allowing four goals on 10 shots. Scott Wedgewood stopped eight of the 10 shots he faced.

Johnston gave the Stars a 1-0 lead just 15 seconds into the game, splitting a pair of Devils and scoring on a wrist shot from the slot.

Erik Haula tied the score at 5:41 of the first period, taking advantage of a Stars turnover in their own end and lifting the puck past Oettinger.

Smith gave the Stars a 2-1 lead when he sent the puck on net from a tough angle along the boards and it got past Allen.

Tierney pulled the Devils even at 17:14. Kurtis MacDermid sent the puck in, Tierney got to it behind the net and his pass out front deflected in off the stick of Dallas defenseman Miro Heiskanen.

Dawson Mercer gave the Devils a 3-2 lead at 1:31 of the second period when he received a pass alone in front, took his time and lifted it over Oettinger's shoulder.

Meier made it 4-2, and ended Oettinger's night, when he scored on a one-timer from the slot off a pass from Jesper Bratt.

Tomas Nosek increased the lead to 5-2 at 5:12 when he took a drop pass from Curtis Lazar and beat Wedgewood from the top of the left circle.

Alexander Holtz scored at 14:25 of the third period for the final goal of the game.

—Field Level Media