Avs ‘trick’ deals Devs first loss of season

It had to happen eventually, and Thursday night it finally did. The Devils lost a hockey game. Gabriel Landeskog scored three goals, the last of which put Colorado ahead with 3:22 remaining, and the Avalanche beat the Devils 5-3 at Prudential Center.

Taylor Hall had a goal and two assists for the Devils, who had opened the season with four straight victories.

“We weren’t clean enough in our plays tonight,” Devils captain Andy Greene. “We don’t give up or quit. We didn’t back down.”

Keith Kinkaid made 30 saves for the Devils, who also got goals from Nico Hischier and Brian Boyle.

Landeskog completed his third career hat trick with a one-timer off a pass by Mikko Rantanen from behind the net. He also scored earlier in the third period.

“I said, ‘Just give me the puck and I hope I can bang it in for you,’ ” said Landeskog, who has five goals this season.

Philipp Grubauer stopped 27 shots for his first win of the season, including a glove save of Kyle Palmieri’s shot with 44 seconds left that preserved a one-goal lead.

“They had a game plan and went out and executed it,” said Palmieri, whose goals streak ended at four games. “We weren’t ready to push it back.”

Hischier put the Devils ahead with his first goal of the season, scoring on a power play with 2:18 left in the first period. He almost found the net again in the closing seconds of the period, but his shot clanked off the right post.

The Avalanche scored twice early in the second period. Andrighetto was awarded a goal after a replay review showed that Kinkaid’s glove was over the goal line when he snagged the shot.

Colorado went ahead when Lanseskog sped past the defense and lifted a wrist shot past Kinkaid.

The Devils tied it on Hall’s first goal of the season. On a delayed penalty, Hall took a pass from Andy Greene and fired a shot past Grubauer with 4:18 left in the period.

The Devils went ahead 3-2 when Palmieri’s shot went off Boyle’s leg with 13:38 left in the game. Landeskog tied it with his second goal less than two minutes later.

Devils goalie Cory Schneider is still rehabbing after hip surgery, but has begun skating with the team. ... Center Travis Zajac suffered a left leg injury and was helped off the ice in the second period. He did not return.