NEWARK, N.J. – Dougie Hamilton could not have drawn it up much better.
First game. First shift. First shot.
One loud introduction to his new team and fanbase.
The star defenseman scored 17 seconds into the season opener as the Devils beat the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3, in overtime on Friday before a sellout crowd at Prudential Center. Andreas Johnsson added a goal and Jack Hughes scored twice, including the OT winner.
Goalie Jonathan Bernier stopped 24 of 27 shots in his first game as a Devil. Coach Lindy Ruff said starter Mackenzie Blackwood was unavailable due to lingering affects from offseason heel surgery. The Devils were without speedy winger Miles Wood (undisclosed) and second defense pair Damon Severson and Ty Smith, who are day-to-day with lower body injuries.
New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) celebrates his goal with center Janne Kuokkanen (59) during the second period against the Chicago Blackhawks at Prudential Center.
The largest Devils home crowd since February 2020 erupted less than a minute into the game when their free agent acquisition beat Blackhawks goalie Kevin Lankinen. Jesper Bratt forced a turnover with an aggressive pinch in the offensive zone and Pavel Zacha found Hamilton wide open in the high slot.
Hamilton's goal prompted a "Dougie" chant from the home crowd and surely a few No. 7 jersey sales in shops around the arena. It was a picture perfect start to a seven-year, $63 million deal that Hamilton signed with the Devils this offseason.
"He's top five in the league for sure," Hughes said on the opening day of training camp. "I think having him can take us to another step."
Per MSG, Hamilton set a franchise record for the fastest goal to start a season. The record was previously held by Zach Parise (26 seconds) from the 2006-07 season.
"He's going to be a big part for us in the long term," captain Nico Hischier said in the preseason.
"It's just great seeing a guy committing to such a young group. It's obviously going to be great for us. He has lots of experience. He's a great player, so it will help us."
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The Blackhawks tied the score less than a minute into the second period on a power play goal. Alex DeBrincat buried a shot from the left circle after a nifty cross-crease pass from Patrick Kane.
The Devils jumped back in front at 17:58 in the second period when Hughes stole the puck and scored after spinning around to his forehand.
Devils rookie Dawson Mercer picked up a point in his NHL debut by setting up the third goal. The 19-year-old center fired a shot from the left circle and the rebound bounced along the goal-line until Johnsson tapped it into the open net. That put the Devils up 3-1 with about 13 minutes left and put each of their top three lines on the scoresheet.
"We look at our top two lines. They are lines that hopefully can be lines that we count on on the offensive side," Ruff said before the game.
"When you look at our third line with Mercer, Johnsson and (Tomas) Tatar, it's a line that should be able to produce too."
Kirby Dach started the Blackhawks' comeback with a power play goal with 3:53 left after Mercer took a double-minor for high sticking. Dominik Kubalik sent the game to overtime – capitalizing on a failed clear with 25.5 seconds on the clock.
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