ELMONT, NY – Jack Hughes virtually single-handedly took care of the New York Islanders Friday night to give the New Jersey Devils a 5-4 overtime victory.
Hughes collected two goals and two assists to reach the 10-point plateau in just four games this season, in addition to scoring the winning goal.
Midway through overtime, Hughes recovered the puck in the neutral zone and maneuvered as he pleased between the three Islanders players. Hughes then cut towards the center of the ice in the opposing zone, before scoring with an excellent wrist shot.
Among other moments of his evening, Jack was complicit in his brother Luke Hughes’ first goal of the season. Dougie Hamilton and Tyler Toffoli also scored in the Devils’ victory.
Despite doubles from Brock Nelson and Bo Horvat, the Islanders suffered their first defeat this season. They previously won their first two games against the Sabers and Coyotes.
In front of the Devils cage, Akira Schmid made 27 saves to get the victory. At the other end of the ice, Ilya Sorokin gave up five times on 38 shots.
The Islanders were the first to score with less than eight minutes remaining in the first period when Nelson deceived Schmid with a wrist shot entering the zone.
The Devils, however, responded with two unanswered goals. Hamilton first tied the game late in the first period with a powerful slap shot, then Toffoli put the Devils in the driver’s seat with his first goal of the season. Jack Hughes collected his first assist on this goal.
Nelson, however, took the New York attack on his shoulders and brought everyone back to square one less than two minutes later with his second goal of the game, the result of a throw between Schmid’s pads.
The Hughes brothers then combined their efforts on the power play a few moments later, in the middle period. Jack spotted Luke at the blue line, then the defenseman scored his first goal of the season with a great slap shot to make it 3-2.
The Islanders once again tied the game 3-3 before the end of the second period thanks to Horvat, but Jack Hughes brought New York back into order early in the third period. On the power play, Hughes redirected a brilliant pass from Ondrej Palat into the back of the net to put the Devils in control and collect his third point of the game.
After Nelson’s double earlier in the evening, Horvat imitated his teammate at the end of the match to send everyone into overtime. With the Islanders attacking with six players, Horvat pounced on a loose puck at the mouth of the net to tie the game 4-4.
Hughes, however, shut the door on the Islanders when he played hero in overtime.
The Islanders will return to action on Saturday against the Sabres, while the Devils will play their next game next Tuesday, against the Canadiens.
