yahoo
NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils secured their third straight win on Saturday, defeating the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 behind a go-ahead goal from defenseman Brett Pesce and a 12-save performance from goaltender Jake Allen.
Anthony Mantha and Artemy Gritsyuk also found the back of the net for New Jersey, which has now won five of its last six games and completed a successful homestand that included victories over Colorado and Anaheim.
Allen, who improved his season record to 5-2-0, was rarely tested but made the necessary stops. Scott Laughton scored the only goal for Los Angeles, which had its two-game winning streak snapped. Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg turned aside 23 shots in the loss.
Pesce broke a 1-1 tie at 8:08 of the third period, firing a shot through traffic from the Los Angeles zone that beat Forsberg. Luke Evangelista and Gritsyuk picked up assists on the goal, Pesce's first of the season.
Earlier in the day, the Devils introduced newly acquired goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner who spent 11 seasons with Winnipeg and compiled 345 wins. New Jersey acquired Hellebuyck on Friday in a trade that sent goaltender Nico Daws, who won against Anaheim on Thursday, to the Jets. Remi Poirier, who has yet to appear in an NHL game, served as Allen's backup on Saturday.
Laughton opened the scoring at 15:57 of the second period, driving the puck past Allen for his second goal of the season. Mantha responded roughly three minutes later with his third goal to tie the game. Gritsyuk sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 18:55, his team-leading sixth of the year.
The Kings had a chance to equalize when New Jersey's Timo Meier was called for tripping at 12:59 of the third period, but the power play came up empty. Los Angeles was coming off road wins over Washington and the New York Islanders to begin a five-game trip after losing its first six games of the season.
Up next: The Kings visit the New York Rangers on Monday, while the Devils travel to Dallas on Tuesday.
Originally reported by yahoo.