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Hughes Clinches Overtime Victory for Devils in a Thrilling Comeback

Jack Hughes starred in a nail-biting match on Saturday night, netting his second goal of the game just 2:35 into overtime, leading the New Jersey Devils to a stunning 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders. Battling back from a two-goal deficit, the Devils secured their third consecutive win.

Dawson Mercer and Stefan Noesen added their names to the scoresheet for New Jersey, while Jacob Markstrom delivered an impressive performance in goal, making 19 saves for the Devils.

Islanders Struggle Despite Early Lead

Simon Holmstrom notched a goal and an assist for the Islanders, with Dennis Cholowski and Brock Nelson adding goals to New York’s tally. However, their collective efforts were not enough to extend the Islanders’ two-game winning streak. Ilya Sorokin was kept busy in the Islanders’ net, making 29 saves.

In the suspense-filled overtime, an unfortunate break of Ryan Pulock’s stick gave Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton the chance to make a strategic outlet pass, setting Hughes up for the game-winning breakaway.

Devils’ Stunning Comeback

Despite facing a 3-1 deficit midway through the third period following goals from Cholowski and Nelson, the Devils rallied. Mercer reduced the deficit to one with just under five minutes left on the clock. Noesen then leveled the scoreline with just 50 seconds left, his pass for Nico Hischier deflecting off Grant Hutton’s skate and slipping past Sorokin.

Game Takeaways

Islanders’ defensemen have only contributed two goals this season, both courtesy of Cholowski. On the Devils’ end, while 21-year-old defenseman Luke Hughes may not be a consistent offensive contributor, his defensive game has significantly improved under the guidance of veteran defenseman Brett Pesce, who was brought in during the offseason on a six-year contract to mentor the young defensive line.

Key Moment

Pesce’s crucial defensive play on Bo Horvat in the early stages of overtime thwarted a potential Islanders’ scoring opportunity, marking a turning point in the game.

Key Statistic

The Islanders have maintained a faceoff win percentage of over 50% in 14 consecutive games, with Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Brock Nelson, and Bo Horvat all boasting winning percentages above this mark for the season.

Upcoming Games

The Devils will look to continue their winning streak when they host San Jose on Sunday, while the Islanders will be hoping to bounce back in Edmonton as they embark on a five-game road trip.