NEWARK, N.J. — Team USA hero Jack Hughes had a hat trick and an assist, Nico Hischier scored the go-ahead goal, and the New Jersey Devils defeated the rival New York Rangers 6-3 on Saturday for their fourth straight win.
Hischier scored a power-play goal at 8:05 of the third — his team-leading 21st — to give the Devils a 4-3 lead before Hughes scored twice, including one into an empty net, for his fourth career hat trick.
“I thought we’ve played good hockey,” Hughes said. “It’s more about being able to finish the job. We’re on a good little run here. We’ve just got to be very present, very in the moment, and see what happens.”
Jesper Bratt and Dawson Mercer also scored for the Devils, who are nine points out of a playoff spot. Bratt and Connor Brown had two assists each and Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves.
Will Borgen, Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Cuylle scored for the last-place Rangers, who were coming off a 6-2 home win over Toronto on Thursday. New York is 4-12-3 since winning the Winter Classic over Florida on Jan. 2.
Bratt opened the scoring 1:06 into the contest, beating Jonathan Quick for his 14th goal. Borgen tied it at 6:26, converting a pass from Vincent Trocheck, who was still a Ranger on Saturday after being the subject of trade rumors for weeks heading into Friday’s deadline.
Gavrikov put New York ahead at 8:36 of the first. But Mercer tied the game on the power play at 19:47 for his 200th career point.
Hughes, who now has 24 career goals against the Rangers, put New Jersey up 3-2 on the power play at 15:52 of the second, his first goal since scoring the gold medal-winning goal for Team USA at the Winter Olympics on Feb. 22.
He scored his second on a breakaway at 16:56 of the third before finishing his hat trick with an empty-net goal as the home crowded serenaded him with chants of “USA, USA!”
The legendary photo, and the photographer who captured it.
Before today’s game, Jack and Elsa Garrison met at The Rock.#NJDevils | @NHL | @usahockey pic.twitter.com/nEcLrDMcD3
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 7, 2026
Before the game, Hughes met Elsa Garrison, the Olympic photographer who shot his gold-winning, tooth-less smile as he donned an American flag two weeks ago after the Team USA’s overtime win over Canada.
“We’re healthy, that’s a big thing,” Hughes’ said of his team’s recent success. “We haven’t been healthy since November. And I think guys get confident when our group starts to roll. … But it’s all about keeping at it.”
The hat trick was Hughes’ second of the season. According to ESPN Research, the franchise lead, eight, is held by former forward Patrik Elias.
Cuylle had tied the contest for third time at 16:53 of the second. And Quick made 29 saves in the loss.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
