Devils Clinch Home Ice as Jack Hughes Makes History

Jack Hughes made history for the New Jersey Devils in the final home game of the regular season. Hughes recorded his 97th point of the season with an empty-net goal as the Devils defeated the Buffalo Sabres by a score of 6-2.

Jack Hughes is officially a @NJDevils record holder. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dRZiTV8Efy

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It is probably not the way Jack Hughes drew it up, but he will take it any way he can get.

“I didn’t think it would come on an empty-netter,” Hughes said post-game.

One thing is for sure — Hughes wanted to break this record badly. After recording a four-point night against the Columbus Blue Jackets this past Thursday night, he told Erika Watcher of MSG Networks: “I want to break that bad boy. I want that record.”

He later expanded on his vision and motive to break the record. Hughes added, “The better I do, the better the team does. So of course I want that record. I’m going to be here for a lot of years, so I’d like to break it this year, but who knows? We will see what happens.”

Well, now Hughes has the record. You knew he had a chance at this record after he tied Patrik Elias with 96 points on Saturday evening against the Boston Bruins. Elias set the record during the 2000-01 season. That was the year the Devils lost in the Stanley Cup Final to Colorado. Hughes had chances to break the record in Boston, but doing it in from of his home fans was extra special.

“We had a lot of good looks tonight,” Hughes continued. “I’m really excited that it happened in front of the home crowd, with one game left it’s not much time. But you put it behind you now. I’m really excited; it’s for me, but it’s also for the team.”

Granted, he probably could have done it early in the game, but it is still a special moment for him and the team.

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For Elias, he knew it was just a matter of time before Hughes was going to break his record. Elias knows it is a great accomplishment and is happy for Hughes.

In a social media post, Elias stated that probably should not have sent a text to Jack Hughes that stated: “You have four games left and six points to go.” As Elias stated, “Hughes proved how good a player he is. It is well deserved and a great accomplishment. I can’t wait to congratulate you in person next week.”

The way Hughes is progressing as a player, Elias knew he was the player who was going to do it. And now, Hughes is three points away from 100. He may not get it this year, but he will one year.

In addition to breaking Patrik Elias’s single-season point record, the Devils as a team made history as well. With the victory, the Devils tied a franchise record for wins in a season with 51. That is the most wins in franchise history since the 2008-09 Devils team also put up 51 wins in a season. The Devils have a chance to break that record Thursday night in Washington.

The Devils had already clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018. However, unlike in 2018, the Devils will have a home-ice advantage in the first round when the playoffs begin next week.