Jack Hughes recorded his second career hat trick, leading the New Jersey Devils to a 6-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.
Key Performances
Tyler Toffoli and Nico Hischier each contributed a goal and an assist, while Erik Haula also found the net. Jesper Bratt added three assists, extending his point streak to seven games.
“This was a rematch to get back on track and play good hockey against this team,” Bratt said. “We’ve been playing very solid, especially on the road, and we wanted to bring that today.”
Goaltending and Standings
Akira Schmid made 23 saves for the Devils, who secured their second consecutive win and eighth in their last ten games. They moved ahead of Washington to fifth place in the Metropolitan Division.
Kirill Marchenko, Yegor Chinakhov, and Alexandre Texier scored for Columbus, with Daniil Tarasov making 23 saves in his first start of the season. The Blue Jackets have lost five of their last seven games.
Game Highlights
New Jersey took control early, with Hughes scoring 47 seconds into the game after Toffoli intercepted an outlet pass from Johnny Gaudreau. This goal was Hughes’ fastest of his NHL career, surpassing his previous record of 54 seconds set in March 2022 against Columbus.
“We talked a lot about getting off to better starts in the first period, to try to get the early goal,” said Devils coach Lindy Ruff, who earned his 850th NHL win, placing him fourth all-time. “For Jack to set the tone was important.”
The Devils outshot Columbus 7-2 in the first period, with Haula extending the lead to 2-0 at 16:21.
“We chased it all night,” Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent said. “It’s an offensive team. Good in transition. Their line of center is one of the best in the league. They’re a good defensive team, and their offensive ability to make plays and their skating ability make it hard to play against.”
Second Period Action
The second period saw both teams trading goals. Marchenko scored a power-play goal 17 seconds in, earning Gaudreau his 700th NHL point with the assist. Toffoli quickly restored the two-goal lead 33 seconds later with his team-leading 13th goal of the season.
Chinakhov brought Columbus back within one at 8:38 with his fifth goal in four games, but Hughes responded with his 100th career goal during a 4-on-3 power play, making it 4-2.
Final Period
Hischier increased the Devils’ lead with a goal at 2:50 of the third period. Texier’s goal with 1:03 remaining brought Columbus closer, but Hughes completed his hat trick with an empty-net goal at 19:12.
“We’re rolling four lines,” Hischier said. “That’s when we’re at our best if we all play the same way.”
Upcoming Games
- Devils: Host Anaheim on Sunday.
- Blue Jackets: Visit Buffalo on Tuesday.
