Taylor Hall Scores Twice In Devils’ 2-1 Win Over Ducks

Taylor Hall scored two power-play goals in the second period to lead the New Jersey Devils to their first victory of the season, a 2-1 home win over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night.

Taylor Hall Scores Twice In Devils’ 2-1 Win Over Ducks

The left wing, acquired by the Devils in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Adam Larsson in June, earned his first two points with the Devils in the team’s home opener. Hall’s goals came within 4:11 of each other.

“It’s fun to not only get the first win, but to get our power play going,” Hall said. “The energy in the rink was great. Everyone was in red and every chance they got, they were on their feet.

“As a player sometimes you don’t feel 100 percent and sometimes it’s not clicking out there, and the crowd can get you into it; sometimes you rely on that at home.”

The Ducks were hit by four straight penalties in the second period, thus sparking New Jersey’s offensive explosion, during which they outshot Anaheim 12-4. The Devils, who entered the game 0-for-6 on the power play, finished 2-for-7 against the Ducks.

Cory Schneider made 23 saves and forced Anaheim’s Chris Wagner to lose control of the puck on a second-period penalty shot. Wagner was given the shot after being hooked from behind by Adam Henrique on a break-away with the Devils on a power play.

Defenseman Sami Vatanen opened scoring at 9:03 in the first period for the Ducks– who played short-handed seven times– while goalie John Gibson had 26 saves. Vatanen’s goal came after the Ducks didn’t let the Devils clear the puck out of their zone after Kyle Palmieri was called for tripping at 7:15.

“There’s a lot of hockey left but we’ve dug ourselves a bit of a hole,” Gibson said. “Obviously we all care in here and want to turn it around but it’s got to come from within.”

Hall tied the game 1-1 at 12:35 of the second period when he scored off a rebound. Michael Cammalleri took the initial shot but the puck deflected to Hall in the right circle, and he scored just inside the right post past Gibson.

Hall’s second goal came on a great deflection of a point shot from defenseman Damon Severson at 16:41. Gibson never stood a chance.

“The thing we’re most proud of right now is not that he scored two goals, but the work ethic and buy-in he’s had since he’s gotten here; it’s been fantastic,” Devils coach John Hynes said. “If he continues that, he’ll continue to have success for us.”

The Devils were 0 for 5 on the power play in their first two games in Florida against the Panthers and Lightning.

Devils rookie defenseman Johann Auvitu lost a clear, game-tying goal early in the second period when Reid Boucher was called for a high stick against defenseman Kevin Bieska seconds before the puck went in the net.

Schneider has not allowed a goal on the last five penalty shots he’s faced dating back to last season. He has stopped 13 of 15 over the course of his NHL career.

Devils forward Vernon Fiddler engaged in a fight with Ryan Kesler 30 seconds after the opening face-off.

The Ducks (0-3-1) will next visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, while the Devils (1-1-1) will visit the Boston Bruins that same day.

NEWARK, NJ – OCTOBER 18: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils moves the puck around Cam Fowler #4 of the Anaheim Ducks during the second period at the Prudential Center on October 18, 2016 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)