Devils 4, Kings 3: Mercer comes up clutch

Dawson Mercer stayed red hot against the Kings, picking up three primary points in an impressive comeback win.

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A few notes following New Jersey’s come from behind win over Los Angeles:

Mercer’s heroics continue

Another game, another great performance from Dawson Mercer. The 21-year-old sophomore played a huge role in the Devils’ comeback win, picking up three primary points – including the overtime winner – against a stout Kings team.

On a night where the Devils had to fight for every inch, and getting to the middle was a chore, Mercer consistently found ways to cut through the defense and create shots around the net.

It was a quality over quantity approach for Mercer, who generated all four of his shots – and scored both goals – from the homeplate area.

Mercer is such a hard working kid and has such a knack for finding space in the dirty areas of the ice. I think that’s why he is so successful with the team’s top two pivots and struggles when trying to drive his own line.

He will consistently get to the high-danger spots but he needs somebody to get him the puck once he is there. That’s not something Miles Wood, Jesper Boqvist, Erik Haula, and a random assortment of bottom-6 players are going to do.

Suffice to say, it is no coincidence Mercer caught fire the second he was promoted back into the top-6.

He has registered at least one point, and three shots or more, in all four games since being moved up the lineup. He’s produced eight points in that span and been one of the team’s most threatening players each time out.

Mercer is showing why he’s such a valuable piece of this Devils team and why he belongs in the top-6 every night.

And, no, I don’t see any scenario he is traded at the deadline (even for a big fish like Timo Meier); nor do I think he’ll be moving back to the 3rd line anytime soon.