NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - FEBRUARY 06: Michael McLeod #20 of the New Jersey Devils keeps the puck from Sheldon Dries #15 of the Vancouver Canucks in the first period at Prudential Center on February 06, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The New Jersey Devils certainly didn’t make it easy on themselves, but in the end found a way to pull out a 5-4 overtime victory over Vancouver, in the first game back since the All-Star Break.  With 42 seconds left in overtime, Jesper Brett took a pass across ice from Jack Hughes, and slammed the puck past Vancouver goalie Collin Delia to give Jersey a thrilling 5-4 victory.

“We showed great character and comeback. Those two points at the end of the stretch will be huge for us,” Bratt said afterwards while donning a huge hat in postgame.

Jersey built a 4-1 lead over Vancouver midway through the second period with Jack Hughes registering his 34th and 35th goals of the year, but couldn’t hold onto that lead as the Canucks rallied.

Luke Schenn and Curtis Lazar scored at the tail end of the second period to draw Vancouver closer at 4-3. The Canucks tied it midway through the third period when Phillip Di Giuseppe slipped the puck past Vitek Vanecek.

With the win, the Devils (33-13-4) pick up where they left off, extending its win streak to two games, while maintaining close proximity to Carolina atop the Metro Division.