OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Colin White has only had 11 games to make a positive impression in Ottawa. But with the Senators missing four veteran forwards Tuesday night, that’s exactly what he did.
The 21-year-old White scored his first NHL goal and undermanned Ottawa went on to a 5-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
White, who has split time between Ottawa and the American Hockey League this season, looked right at home playing alongside Matt Duchene and Mike Hoffman, who also scored.
”He’s getting better and better every night,” said Duchene, who had three points. ”He’s going to be a heck of a hockey player in this organization and I’m really enjoying playing with him.”
Senators coach Guy Boucher has been impressed with White, but said Duchene deserves a great deal of credit for taking him under his wing and helping him adapt to the NHL.
”I think the kid is learning fast and he’s helping us,” Boucher said. ”Right now he’s showing us that he’s ready to play at this level and we’ll see where it takes us. He’s relentless, and that’s my type of person.
”I like the fact that Duchene is really leading with him and helping him and that connection is good.”
White was excited to finally get his first goal. He picked up his first career assist last Saturday.
”It was a nice play all around,” White said. ”Duchene brought it in, (Thomas Chabot) looked off the D and made a great play back door and then I just got it and ripped it. It was pretty exciting.”
Duchene had a goal and two assists. Chris DiDomenico and Zack Smith also scored for Ottawa, and Craig Anderson made 30 saves.
The Senators were already missing Mark Stone (knee) and Bobby Ryan (hand) on Tuesday when they learned they would be without Derick Brassard, who is banged up, and Nate Thompson, who left the morning skate early as he continues to deal with a lower-body injury.
Travis Zajac, Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri scored for the Devils. Keith Kinkaid allowed four goals on 20 shots before being replaced by Eddie Lack, who gave up one goal on 12 shots.
Trailing 5-2 to start the third period, the Devils made it a two-goal game on Palmieri’s 11th of the season.
The Senators took a 4-1 lead midway through the second when White scored on a great feed from Chabot in front of 13,991 at Canadian Tire Centre. The goal put an end to Kinkaid’s night.
The Devils trimmed the deficit when Hall scored his 19th of the season on a power play, extending his scoring streak to 11 games (seven goals, 10 assists). Alex Burrows was given a double-minor after taking exception to a hit from Hall and chasing him down before punching him.
”I thought it was a clean hit,” Hall said. ”He was losing his mind and I think he kneed me in the back of the head at one point.”
The Senators made it 5-2 in the final minute of the second when Jean-Gabriel Pageau fed Smith for a breakaway as he stepped out of the penalty box. He made no mistake in beating Lack, who made his first appearance in goal for the Devils.
”I feel I’ve got to make that save on the breakaway to give us a chance to come back,” Lack said. ”Three goals is a little bit too much to start the third.”
An entertaining first period saw the Senators jump out to a 3-1 lead.
The Devils opened the scoring two minutes in as Stefan Noesen took advantage of a turnover and found Zajac, who beat Anderson short side.
The Senators made the most of a two-man advantage as Hoffman beat Kinkaid with a one-timer to the top corner. On the ensuing power play, DiDomenico scored his fifth of the season.
Duchene completed the scoring, beating Kinkaid short side on a play that started with a great behind-the-back pass from Hoffman.
NOTES: Ottawa recalled Max McCormick from Belleville of the AHL. … Hall played in his 500th NHL game.
UP NEXT
Devils: Host the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.
Senators: Host the Nashville Predators on Thursday night.
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