NJ Devils get two goals from Jesper Boqvist in win over Islanders

NEWARK — The end result of preseason games are meaningless but it’s impossible to not think about the lineup possibilities after watching the Devils play back-to-back preseason games Friday and Saturday nights at Prudential Center. 

Friday night’s win over the Rangers featured Jack Hughes centering Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri and it was every bit as exciting to watch as you’d think. But Saturday night in a 4-3 win against the Islanders, they may have been one-upped by Nikita Gusev, Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. 

"They play the offensive side of the game really well and they also understand and are committed when they don't have the puck so it's nice to see that combination," coach John Hynes said. "It seems as though whoever is playing with Nico and Jack, regardless of the wingers, there's some chemistry. And that's a good thing. That's why the center ice position is so important." 

There is no promise that any of those lines will stick together in the regular season. Right now, players are on certain schedules and those two lines came together because of nothing more than timing. But if it really is the Devils’ time to climb the NHL standings then maybe they should take a closer look at using those lines again.

How they won

This was not the best game of the Devils’ preseason slate but some of their young players showed well, most notably Jesper Boqvist, who scored two power play goals. The Swedish forward prospect continues to make a case for an opening night roster spot.

Boqvist gave New Jersey a quick lead 2:39 into play and broke a 3-3 tie 15:57 in the third when he tipped in a feed from Will Butcher. The Swedish forward, who will turn 21 on Oct. 30, has been a quick study on the smaller ice sheet and while he said he's admittedly still adjusting, coach John Hynes said his ability to keep it simple has allowed him to make the necessary adjustments. 

"Playing in this league is understanding when you have opportunities to attack," Hynes said. "When you have time and space, you have to use it. But a lot of it is being able to play all components of the game." 

Outside of Boqvist and the top line the Devils didn’t generate a ton of offense. That top line commanded all of the attention and rightfully so, but the Islanders outshot the Devils 45-21. Gusev and Will Butcher also scored and Hischier had the primary assist on the first three goals. 

Cory Schneider played a full game for the first time this preseason and faced quite a bit of work, stopping 41 of 45 shots faced. 

"That was pretty tiring, that one," Schneider said. "But it's part of the process. That's part of training camp, there are hard practices and hard games." 

Highlight reel 

At 8:31 in the second in period Hischier and Gusev blitzed down the ice in transition, Hischier fed Gusev who backhanded the puck out of midair and flipped it over Thomas Griess to put New Jersey ahead 2-1.

"I knew we had a 2-on-1 and I tried on the first pass to get it over but it didn't connect," Hischier said. "So I bobbled it a little over and I don't know how he put that in the net but we'll take it."