In an exciting NHL encounter, Team USA hero Jack Hughes shone with a hat trick and an assist, leading the New Jersey Devils to a 6-3 victory over their rivals, the New York Rangers. Nico Hischier scored the tie-breaking goal, while the Devils secured their fourth straight win. Hischier scored his 21st goal of the season at 8:05 of the third period, during a power play situation, giving the Devils a 4-3 lead. Hughes then scored twice more, including an empty-net goal, completing his fourth hat trick of his career.
Jesper Bratt and Dawson Mercer also contributed goals for the Devils, who are nine points out of a playoff spot. Bratt and Connor Brown each recorded two assists, and Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves. Will Borgen, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Will Cuylle scored for the Rangers, who were coming off a 6-2 home win over Toronto on Thursday. Bratt opened the scoring at 1:06 of the game, scoring his 14th goal. Borgen tied the game at 6:26, and Gavrikov put New York ahead at 8:36 of the first period. Mercer tied the score on the power play at 19:47, achieving his 200th career point. Hughes, with 24 career goals against the Rangers, put New Jersey up 3-2 on the power play at 15:52 of the second period. At 16:56 of the third period, Hughes scored his second goal on a breakaway, and completed his hat trick with a goal into the empty net. Before the match, Hughes met with Elsa Garrison, the Olympic photographer who captured his toothless smile as he put on the American flag after Team USA’s victory over Canada.“I think we’ve played good hockey,” said Hughes, who scored his second hat trick of the season. “It’s more about being able to finish the job. We’re on a good run. We have to be very present, very in the moment, and see what happens.”
Jack Hughes
“We’re healthy, that’s an important thing,” Hughes said about his team’s recent success. “We haven’t been healthy since November. And I think the guys feel confident when our group starts to function. … But it’s about moving forward.”
Jack HughesCuylle tied the score for the third time at 16:53 of the second period. Jonathan Quick made 29 saves in the loss.
