Andrew Gross | NorthJersey

Andrew Gross/NorthJersey.com

WINNIPEG – Taylor Hall's shot, deflected off Nico Hischier, rolled through the Jets’ crease and slowed as it reached the goal line. Devils rookie Will Butcher stretched out his stick and knocked the puck into the net.

The goal at 7:14 of the third period in the Devils’ 5-2 loss at Bell MTS Place on Saturday afternoon marked the defenseman’s first in the NHL.

John Woods, AP

“I think you always dream about scoring your first goal in the National Hockey League,” said Butcher, the Hobey Baker Award winner at the University of Denver who signed as a college free agent this offseason. “In my mind, I drew it up a little bit different than just pushing the puck three inches across the line. It was still a special moment.”

Butcher also has 14 assists in his 19 games.

Not headed to the AHL

Pavel Zacha, the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, was a healthy scratch for the second straight game and fourth time in five games.

But while the team’s management has had discussions with both Zacha and his agent, Patrik Stefan, about his playing time, Devils coach John Hynes said re-assigning the 20-year-old to Binghamton (AHL) is not currently under consideration.

“We’re working with the agent, Ray, myself and the player, just to make sure we’re helping a young guy who’s an important part of our organization,” Hynes said. “There are no mixed messages. Everybody understands what we want and what we need from him.”

Jeffrey T. Barnes, AP

Zacha has two goals and three assists in 15 games after notching eight goals and 16 assists in 70 games as a rookie.

Briefs

Hynes said Travis Zajac, who logged 15;23 and won 11 of 15 faceoffs in his second game back in the lineup after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle on Aug. 17, has resumed wearing an A as an alternate captain. Taylor Hall, who the second A on Saturday, Kyle Palmieri, Brian Boyle, Drew Stafford, Adam Henrique and Marcus Johansson, who missed his eighth game with a concussion, will rotate wearing the second A. …The Devils were not penalized in a game for the first time this season. No. 1 overall pick Nico Hischier took a career high seven shots, matching the season high for the Devils. …Defenseman Dalton Prout and right wing Jimmy Hayes also remained healthy scratches.