Devils blank Isles

DEVILS 2 ISLANDERS 0

Ty Smith set up two first-period goals to become the sixth NHL rookie defenseman to earn points in his first five games, leading the Devils to a 2-0 victory over the Islanders on Sunday night in Newark.

Scott Wedgewood, who spent last season in the AHL, stopped 28 shots for his first NHL shutout since he blanked the Devils in December 2017 for Arizona. The win was his first in an NHL game since February 2018.

“I’m proud of myself,” Wedgewood said, noting his biggest thrill of the night was getting the shutout as a birthday present for his mother, Brenda. He has not seen his parents in Toronto since October.

“I mean, they’ve been the biggest supporters I have, and it is good for her,” he said. “I’m sure she’s enjoying it, but haven’t checked my phone yet. But I love them. They’ve been, you know, everything I can ask for and more. So it is enjoyable. And I hope she had a fun night.”

Jack Hughes and Pavel Zajac scored two minutes apart late in the opening period as the Devils split their home-and-home series with the Islanders.

Wedgewood, who signed with the Devils as a free agent in the offseason, has started the last two games. Top goalie Mackenzie Blackwood was placed on the COVID-19 list on Thursday, hours before the Islanders posted a 4-1 victory over the Devils. Wedgewood has come a long way. After leaving the Devils he had stints in Los Angeles, Arizona, Buffalo, Tampa and back with the Devils. He has learned not every save needs to be perfect.

“It’s just made me kind of understand what I do and how I do it and just to use that as your strength,” Wedgewood said. “I think now just kind of taking up more net, presenting myself a little bit bigger and just being a lot more patient.”

Wedgewood was at his best in the first period, when he stopped six shots on the Islanders’ first power play.