Jesper Bratt hit a major milestone, reaching 500 NHL points, while Connor Brown and Jack Hughes each tallied three points to propel the New Jersey Devils to a 6-3 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.
The Rangers got off to a quick start, lighting the lamp with their second shot of the game thanks to a sharp snap shot from defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.
The Devils responded with Nico Hischier finding the back of the net at 16:14 during a power play, capitalizing on a holding penalty served by Gabe Perreault. Brown and Bratt were instrumental in setting up this crucial equalizer.
Arseny Gritsyuk then put the Devils ahead 2-1 with just under five minutes left in the first period. The rookie's 13th goal of the season places him among the top ten for first-year players.
The second period kicked off with some fireworks as New York quickly tied it up 2-2. Jacob Markstrom, in goal for the Devils, faced back-to-back shots, with Mika Zibanejad netting his 28th of the season and his 17th career goal against New Jersey.
Brown struck again for New Jersey, giving them a 3-2 lead with another power play goal midway through the second. Jack Hughes and Hischier were on hand to assist, showcasing their playmaking prowess.
Timo Meier added to the Devils' tally early in the third, extending their lead to 4-2. Paul Cotter, fresh off a game-winning goal in their last outing, picked up the assist.
The Rangers fought back with Conor Sheary scoring their third goal at the 10:19 mark of the third period. However, Hughes was quick to restore the Devils’ two-goal cushion just three minutes later. Hughes entered the game with an impressive 14 points in 12 career games at the Garden, and he didn't disappoint.
Jesper Bratt sealed the victory with New Jersey’s final goal, assisted by Hughes, who earned his third point of the night. According to Leo Scaglione Jr. of MSG Networks, Hughes has been a thorn in the Rangers' side, amassing 35 points against them since 2019, the most by any player in that span.
The Devils are gearing up for a road trip with stops in Washington, D.C., Dallas, Nashville, and Carolina. Their next challenge is against the Washington Capitals on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Capital One Arena. Keep an eye on this team as they continue to make waves this season.