New Jersey Devils left wing Tomas Tatar (90) scores against Anaheim Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) during the shootout in an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. The Devils won 2-1. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Anaheim Ducks left wing Sonny Milano (12) plays the puck against New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New Jersey Devils left wing Tomas Tatar (90) is congratulated by teammates after his goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Manson (42) shoots the puck against New Jersey Devils goaltender Nico Daws (50) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm (47) skates with the puck against New Jersey Devils center Yegor Sharangovich (17) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New Jersey Devils goaltender Nico Daws (50) reacts after making a save against Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (19) during the shootout in an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) reaches for the puck next to Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Mahura (76) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New Jersey Devils left wing Tomas Tatar (90) is congratulated by teammates after his goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) makes a save against the New Jersey Devils during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (4) plays the puck against New Jersey Devils defenseman Ty Smith (24) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New Jersey Devils left wing Tomas Tatar (90) scores against Anaheim Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) during the shootout in an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. The Devils won 2-1. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (19) and New Jersey Devils center Yegor Sharangovich reach for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Bratt (63) plays the puck against Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (46) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (19) plays the puck against the New Jersey Devils during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New Jersey Devils defenseman Ryan Graves (33) reacts after a hit by Anaheim Ducks left wing Max Comtois (44) as goaltender Nico Daws (50) makes a save during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Anaheim Ducks left wing Sonny Milano (12) checks New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New Jersey Devils goaltender Nico Daws (50) reacts after making a save against Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (19) during the shootout in an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Anaheim Ducks center Isac Lundestrom (21) plays the puck against New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Bratt (63) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) reacts after New Jersey Devils left wing Tomas Tatar (90) scored during the shootout period in an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New Jersey Devils left wing Tomas Tatar (90) is congratulated by teammates after his goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New Jersey Devils goaltender Nico Daws (50) makes a save against Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras (46) during the shootout in an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. The Devils won 2-1. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry (19) is congratulated by teammates after his goal against the New Jersey Devils during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (4) plays the puck against New Jersey Devils defenseman Ty Smith (24) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
NEWARK, N.J. — Anthony Stolarz moved deftly to his left to cut down the angle when Dawson Mercer of the New Jersey Devils fired a close-range shot on goal in the third period Saturday at the Prudential Center. Stolarz then stood his ground when Jack Hughes rocketed toward his crease in overtime.
Stolarz was razor-sharp from start to finish over the course of 65 minutes, giving up one goal on 40 shots before yielding two nearly unstoppable goals in a shootout during the Ducks’ 2-1 loss to the Devils. His performance in relief of John Gibson then begged an obvious question.
Would he start Sunday against the New York Islanders?
“Probably not,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said.
Eakins said there would be a conversation on the bus ride to the team’s New York hotel, however. Stolarz certainly merited consideration for a second consecutive start after backstopping the Ducks to their best defensive showing since a 2-1 OT loss Jan. 31 to the Detroit Red Wings.
“We have no reservations about ever putting him in the net,” Eakins said.
Of the Ducks’ overall play, Eakins said, “It’s a step in the right direction.”
Josh Manson returned to the lineup after a 13-game layoff because of a broken finger. Trevor Zegras rejoined the lineup after sitting out one game because of an upper-body injury. Isac Lundestrom joined the team after a cross-country flight after missing two games because of a lower-body injury.
The Ducks looked a little more like themselves Saturday, but Ryan Getzlaf and Jakob Silfverberg remained on injured reserve because of lower-body injuries and Jamie Drysdale sat out for the first time this season. Drysdale struggled in the first two games of the five-game trip.
Manson’s impact on the Ducks’ play was immediate. He was credited with an assist, two shots on goal, two that were blocked and two hits while logging 20:01 of ice time in his first game since he was injured Jan. 29 during a check along the boards from Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators.
“We’re a different team when he’s in the lineup,” Eakins said of Manson. “I thought he played a hell of a game. He was physical. He made plays. He was up in the play at times. When you see a guy have an effect on the game, you realize … what a gaping hole there was in our game.”
The Ducks took their first lead in four games when Troy Terry whistled a shot through a screen and past New Jersey goaltender Nico Daws midway through the first period for his team-leading 29th goal. Tatar countered for the Devils in the opening minutes of the second period, however.
In the shootout, Tatar beat Stolarz for the only goal the Devils would need to win. Daws denied Zegras. Jesper Bratt beat Stolarz, leaving it up to Terry to continue the shootout. Daws stopped him, too, and the Ducks’ winless streak reached three games (0-2-1) to start their trip.
“I made the first move on both of them and kind of made it easy for them,” Stolarz said, chiding himself for the shootout goals by Tatar and Bratt. “Obviously, it’s not the way you want to go out for a goalie, going 0 for 2. Overall, I thought I played well and felt really good out there.”
Stolarz then wouldn’t say whether he had earned another start Sunday.
“When my name’s called, I’m just going to be ready,” he said. “That’s my mindset every day. When my turn is up, I’ll go out there and show what I can do and try not to worry about anything else. Early in my career, I used to get caught up in this and that. Now, I try to take it day by day and try to enjoy the process.”
