Jack Hughes delivered the decisive blow with 3:42 remaining in overtime, firing a shot past Ilya Sorokin’s blocker to secure a 5-4 victory for the New Jersey Devils over the New York Islanders. The win extends New Jersey’s momentum to four consecutive games, capping a high-scoring affair that saw both teams trade blows throughout regulation. Hughes displayed elite puck management on the winning play, keeping possession during a two-on-one rush before finding the open net to silence the Garden crowd.
Hughes seals fourth straight win as New Jersey erases two-goal deficit in chaotic Garden clash
The Devils staged a dramatic third-period comeback to erase a two-goal deficit, driven by a surge of offensive pressure. Luke Evangelista pulled New Jersey within one goal at the 6:08 mark, setting the stage for Dougie Hamilton to tie the game on the power play with 6:18 remaining. Hamilton’s goal was the result of a precise setup by Hughes, who curled around the net to find his teammate in the slot. Declan Chisholm and Evan Rodrigues also contributed to the Devils’ scoring outburst, while goaltender Jake Allen made 19 saves to keep the team in contention.
For the Islanders, the loss marks their third straight defeat despite a strong defensive effort from Sorokin, who stopped 45 shots. Anthony Duclair, Matthew Schaefer, Simon Holmstrom, and Victor Eklund found the back of the net for New York, but the team failed to convert their chances into a lead that would hold. Captain Bo Horvat added two assists, yet the Islanders’ inability to maintain a two-goal cushion in the third period proved costly. The result leaves New Jersey riding a wave of confidence while New York struggles to find consistency in a critical stretch of the season.
Source: Yahoo Sports
