NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jack Hughes had a hat trick and an assist, Nico Hischier scored the go-ahead goal, and the New Jersey Devils beat the 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.
Here are all three goals in case you missed 'em 🚨 pic.twitter.com/QTm0reTrBe
— NHL (@NHL) March 7, 2026
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.
Mercer tied the game on the power play at 19:47 for his 200th career point.
Hughes 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!”
Cuylle had tied the contest for third time at 16:53 of the second.
Quick made 29 saves.
Devils: Host Detroit on Sunday.
Rangers: Visit Philadelphia on Monday.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
