Hischier gets 3 points, Devils shut out Penguins

NEWARK, N.J. -- Nico Hischier had a goal and two assists for the New Jersey Devils in a 3-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Prudential Center on Saturday.

"I think we're a pretty confident group right now," Hischier said. "We're still trying to get better every day, finding consistency in our game. If you're strong in your defensive zone, you're definitely going to win more games than lose."

Timo Meier had a goal and an assist, and Jacob Markstrom made 12 saves for his second shutout of the season for the Devils (22-11-3), who are 4-1-0 in their past five games. New Jersey has limited the opposition to 20-or-fewer shots in six straight games.

"From day one, [coach Sheldon Keefe] preached about the defense," Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon said. "We know what we have in this room offensively. It just shows the type of team we can be when we do commit."

It was New Jersey's first shutout against Pittsburgh since a 3-0 win on March 24, 2016.

Tristan Jarry made 24 saves for the Penguins (15-15-5), who lost in regulation for the first time in five games (3-1-1).

"They were using the middle of the ice really well and attacking us," Jarry said. "They were able to get to the net front and battle hard. We could have done a better job in the third period."

Markstrom had four saves in the second period, including a glove stop while diving to his left to force Sidney Crosby off the right post at 3:42.

"We stayed calm even though I don't think we played our best game," Hischier said. "[Markstrom] made some huge saves for us to keep us in the game, and we just stuck with it and eventually got the win."

Stefan Noesen gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at 17:32 of the second. Hischier spun away from Penguins defenseman Owen Pickering along the right wing half boards and backhanded a pass to Noesen in the slot for his NHL career-high 15th goal of the season.

"I think it was opening up for a one-timer, but it was a nice high sauce by [Meier]," Hischier said. "I think [the spin move] is just something that naturally happens when you're on the ice, holding onto pucks and cutting back."

Markstrom, who earned the 22nd shutout of his NHL career, denied Philip Tomasino skating down the slot with a left pad save at 6:40 of the third period.

"We're going to make mistakes and when we do, it's nice to have a guy back there like him," Dillon said of Markstrom. "It's nice to get the win, bear down and get the shutout."

Hischier pushed it to 2-0 on a snap shot at the right post at 7:47 of the third while Noesen was jostling with defenseman Ryan Shea for position in the slot.

"I actually thought I was about to fight so I was a little surprised it went in," Noesen said. "[Keefe's] really trusting me and they signed me to play kind of down the lineup and that's kind of what I think I do best. Whatever you need me to do ... you tell me to run through a wall, you tell me to do this, I'll try to do that."

Meier scored an empty-net goal at 18:27 for the 3-0 final.

"I thought after they got the second goal, we opened up a little, and that's where they got a bunch of their shots," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "They defend well. I thought for two-and-a-half periods we competed hard and were right there.

"We had two Grade A opportunities in the second period and didn't score on either of them."

NOTES: Pickering sustained an upper-body injury after a hit by Paul Cotter at 14:11 of the second period and didn't return to the game; there was no update after the game. ... Pierre-Olivier Joseph had no shots and three giveaways in 18:49 of ice time in his season debut for the Penguins after the defenseman was acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 18. ... Hischier's three-point night gives him 82 points (36 goals, 46 assists) in a calendar year for the first time in his career (83 games). The last Devils captain to score at least 80 points in a calendar year was Patrik Elias (82 in 2006). ... New Jersey is 11-3-2 when scoring the first goal of the game and 17-0-1 when leading after two periods.