Newark, N.J. — Jack Hughes continued his hot streak since scoring the U.S. Olympic gold-medal winner, chipping in three assists as the New Jersey Devils handed the Boston Bruins a 4-3 overtime loss Monday night, delivering a significant blow to Boston’s playoff hopes.
Hughes set up Connor Brown’s tally, becoming the fastest player in Devils history to reach 400 career points, and later assisted on Jesper Bratt’s goal. He picked out Paul Cotter for the game-winner with just 6.2 seconds remaining in 3-on-3 overtime, pushing Hughes to 402 points in his 414th regular-season game. Since returning from Milan, Hughes has amassed 12 points in 10 contests.
Paul Cotter opened the third period with a goal that put New Jersey up 3-2, but David Pastrnak answered less than two minutes later to level the score. Pastrnak finished with two goals, including a spectacular individual effort that tied the game at three, but the Bruins couldn’t hold a two-goal lead nor secure consecutive wins for the first time since late January.
Pavel Zacha, facing his former team, also chipped in his 20th goal of the season. New Jersey goalie Jacob Markstrom stopped 19 shots, while Boston’s Joonas Korpisalo conceded four goals on 34 attempts. The game featured plenty of physicality and discipline issues, with the teams combining for 10 penalties and two fighting majors in the final 11 minutes of regulation.
Boston’s loss further complicates its chase for postseason positioning. The Bruins sit in the second Eastern Conference wild-card berth but were overtaken in the standings by Detroit after the Red Wings’ win Monday. With 15 games remaining, Boston has 81 points — two clear of Columbus and four ahead of Ottawa.
The Bruins head to Montreal on Tuesday for a divisional matchup, while the Devils wrap up a seven-game homestand and begin a five-game road trip Wednesday at the New York Rangers.
