Nico Hischier, Jacob Markstrom help Devils blank Penguins

Captain Nico Hischier collected a goal and two assists and Jacob Markstrom made 12 saves to lift the New Jersey Devils to a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday in Newark, N.J.

Timo Meier scored and set up a goal and Stefan Noesen added his career-high 15th goal of the season.

Markstrom turned aside three shots in the third period to preserve his second shutout of the season and 22nd career. Markstrom improved to 8-4-0 in his career versus Pittsburgh and helped the Devils avenge a 4-2 setback to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.

Markstrom denied a pair of point-blank chances by Pittsburgh in the second period of a scoreless game. He thwarted Evgeni Malkin's one-timer before denying superstar captain Sidney Crosby of a goal in back-to-back games by reaching back and preventing the puck from crossing the line.

Tristan Jarry finished with 25 saves for the Penguins, who saw their four-game point streak (3-0-1) come to a halt after being shut out for the third time this season.

New Jersey snapped a scoreless tie after taking advantage of a breakdown in net-front defense to open the scoring with 2:28 remaining in the second period. Hischier deftly changed direction along the right-wing boards, gained a step on defenseman Owen Pickering and skated into the corner before backhanding a feed that Noesen converted on the doorstep.

Noesen's goal total eclipsed his previous high, set during the 2023-24 season with the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Devils doubled the advantage at 7:47 of the third period. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton's shot was denied by Jarry, however Hischier alertly spotted the loose puck during a scrum for his team-leading 17th goal of the season.

Meier capped the scoring by finding the empty net with 1:33 remaining in the game.

Pickering sustained an upper-body injury in the second period and did not return to the game.

--Field Level Media