With their season once again on the line, Jack Hughes took charge for the New Jersey Devils, showcasing his talent with a standout performance in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Hughes delivered on all fronts, scoring twice, assisting two more goals, and even engaging in an unexpected scuffle.
Hughes’ contributions led the Devils to an 8-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, reducing their series deficit to 2-1. His assist on Timo Meier’s opening goal and a quick second goal five minutes later set the tone early for New Jersey.
“We were locked in right from the start,” said Hughes, a Lady Byng award nominee for sportsmanship this season. “Everyone was competing, winning battles, and skating hard. That’s when we’re at our best.”
One of the night’s surprises came when Hughes and Carolina’s Sebastian Aho tangled in a second-period altercation near the Hurricanes’ net. Hughes tried to wrestle Aho to the ice, and although no significant punches landed, it marked an unusual display of physicality for the Devils’ star. Both players received penalties, with Hughes picking up a rare roughing call.
“I think that disqualifies him for the Lady Byng,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff joked. “But really, what was he thinking?”
Beyond Hughes’ standout night, the Devils saw first playoff goals from Nico Hischier and Damon Severson. Goaltender Vitek Vanecek returned to the net and made 26 saves, even recording an assist on Miles Wood’s third-period breakaway goal.
“It feels great,” said Hischier. “We’ve turned this into a series now, and scoring eight goals makes a statement. There’s still room to improve, but we’ll take this win.”
The eight goals marked New Jersey’s highest-scoring playoff game since they beat Washington 10-4 in 1988. Michael McLeod added a shorthanded goal in the first period, and 19-year-old defenseman Luke Hughes, making his playoff debut, chipped in two assists. Dawson Mercer added three assists of his own.
Carolina tied an NHL record with three shorthanded goals, matching previous playoff performances from the 1983 New York Islanders, 1983 Edmonton Oilers, and 1981 Boston Bruins. Jordan Martinook scored on a penalty shot while down a man, and Jordan Staal and Seth Jarvis tallied goals 50 seconds apart during the same penalty kill in the third period.
“We expected them to come out strong,” said Staal. “They played our style of game but executed it better tonight.”
Aho added another goal for Carolina, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace. Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen, who had been solid in the first two games, gave up four goals on just 12 shots before being replaced by Pyotr Kochetkov early in the second period.
The game marked a significant shift from the first two contests in Raleigh, where the Hurricanes dominated with an 11-2 combined scoreline.
“We were just bad tonight,” said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour. “I’ve never seen us play like that.”
Injuries and Notes
- Devils defenseman Ryan Graves missed the game due to an upper-body injury from Game 2. Luke Hughes replaced him, and the Devils also dressed Smith for a seven-defensemen lineup.
- Hurricanes goaltender Antti Raanta has missed the last two games due to illness, and Kochetkov has served as the backup. In relief, Kochetkov made 18 saves on 22 shots.
- Carolina aimed for its first 3-0 series lead since the second round of 2019 but fell short.
- The Devils are attempting to become the third NHL team to win multiple series in a single postseason after overcoming 2-0 deficits. Boston achieved this in 2011, and Pittsburgh did so in 2009.
- Ondrej Palat recorded a goal and an assist, bringing his career playoff total to 101 points (51 goals, 50 assists) in 148 games.
Up Next
- Game 4 will be played on Tuesday night, with the Devils looking to even the series.
