Timo Meier nets game winner as Devils defeat Utah

Timo Meier scored the eventual game-winner as the visiting New Jersey Devils defeated the Utah Hockey Club 3-1 on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.

Nico Hischier and Curtis Lazar also scored for the Devils, who avoided a second consecutive loss and improved to 6-5-0 over its last 11.

With the victory, New Jersey is 18-12-2 on the road this season and moved into a tie with the Carolina Hurricanes for the second seed in the Metropolitan Division.

Nico Daws made 24 saves for his third win of the season.

Mikhail Sergachev scored the lone goal for Utah, which saw its three-game win streak snapped in the loss. The Utah Hockey Club is now 6-4-2 over its last 12 games.

Karel Vejmelka stopped 26 shots in the loss.

New Jersey outshot Utah 9-7 in the opening period and led 1-0 after 20 minutes.

Hischier opened the scoring at 9:34 of the first period, putting home the rebound off Luke Hughes' point shot for his 25th of the season. The goal was the 400th career point for the Devils captain.

Utah tied it 1-1 when Sergachev one-timed a backhand feed from Liam O'Brien for his 11th of the season at 10:03 of the middle frame, snapping a seven-game drought.

Meier restored the Devils lead 14 seconds into the third period, snapping a shot far side past Vejmelka for his 16th of the season, ending an eight-game drought.

New Jersey took a two-goal lead at 12:44 of the third as Lazar put a wrist shot shortside past Vejmelka for his second goal of the season and first since Oct. 25.

With his assist on the goal, Jack Hughes extended his franchise-best road point streak to 12 games. Hughes has a team-leading 70 points in 61 games this season.

Saturday was the second and final meeting this season between New Jersey and Utah. The host Devils blanked Utah 3-0 on Oct. 14.

--Field Level Media