Jack Hughes Proving He Was Born for the Playoffs

The New Jersey Devils have tied their series with the New York Rangers at 2-2 after a 3-1 victory in Game 4 inside Madison Square Garden. Leading the way offensively as he has done all season for the Devils has been Jack Hughes. Proving no stage is too big for him.

Hughes was once again a factor for the Devils in their Game 4 victory. He opened the scoring in the first period to pick up his third goal of the series. But there is something about playing on Madison Square Garden ice that brings out a different side to Jack Hughes.

Hughes is no stranger to the bright lights, but for some reason, he always plays his best hockey against the Rangers. He now has eight goals against the Rangers since coming into the league. In addition, Hughes has scored in four consecutive games at Madison Square Garden. Including back-to-back playoff games as he opened the scoring in Game 3 as well.

There is something about playing at Madison Square Garden that brings out the best in Hughes.

“I love playing at the Garden, Hughes said post-game. “Big-time players show up at the Garden, whatever sport that is. It’s not about me, but I have to bring my game and continue to play well and help the team win any way I can.”

And Hughes is hearing it from the fans at Madison Square Garden too. Every time he touches the puck, the boobirds ring down from the crowd. That is how you really know you have made it in the league. But as Hughes told Emily Kaplan of ESPN during the first intermission, he really does not hear them. And if he does hear them, he won’t let anyone know.

One thing is for sure, Hughes feeds off the crowd’s reaction and he likes to give it right back to him. His early first-period goalie silenced the fans inside the Garden. From there the Devils offence fed off of Jack Hughes. Hughes’s play was really noticeable in Game 4 for the Devils. It seemed after taking the hits and understanding what playoff hockey is really about he has adjusted well.

“He’s a fun player to watch, night in, night out he’s doing special stuff,” said Lindy Ruff post-game. “I think his play away from the puck tonight deserves a lot of credit too because he was up against some seasoned guys that he knew he had to be good defensively (against) and he really was.”

Game 4 was more wide open than any of the other previous games. The Devils used their speed to their advantage led by Hughes. He was able to penetrate the zone with his speed and the Devils were able to execute their game plan to perfection. The Devils find comfort on the road.

As Hughes stated post-game: “When you go down 2-0, that has nothing to do with experience. That has everything to do with us not playing very well.” 

And he was right. The Devils found their game and gained confidence after their big win in Game 3 in overtime.

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Backstopping the Devils again was Akira Schmid. Schmid was excellent again stopping 22 of 23 shots faced. His saves early on Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko led to Jonas Siegenthaler flipping the puck down the ice, as Hughes got on his horse to score on Igor Shesterkin.

Siegenthaler also recorded the game-winning goal after the Rangers tied the game at 1-1, the Devils used their speed to break out of the zone led by Nico Hischier. Hischier got over the line and sent a cross-ice pass to Siegenthaler charging. From there Siegenthaler ripped one passed Igor Shesterkin to give the Devils the lead they would never surrender.

The Devils locked it down defensively similar to what the Rangers did to them in the first two games. New Jersey did not give the Rangers any inches of ice through the neutral zone. The Devils won all the puck battles and were able to seal the deal with an Ondrej Palat empty net goal.

The series is now tied at 2-2 with the scene shifting back to Prudential Center for Game 5. How many people thought there would be a Game 6?

Notes Per the New Jersey Devils:

• The most goals any Devil player has ever scored in a single playoff series against the Rangers is five when Patrik Elias hit that mark in 2005-06. On two other occasions a player has had four goals: Elias, again, in 2007-08 and Claude Lemieux in 1991-92. Jack Hughes has three in the series.
• Schmid becomes the first goaltender since Martin Brodeur in 2012 to win two games in a playoff series for New Jersey.