When the Devils get to overtime, the script feels familiar: New Jersey has a real shot to finish the job. That’s not just because of structure or personnel around Jack Hughes, either. It’s because the Devils have the game’s most dangerous 3-on-3 player.
Hughes has already scored three overtime game-winners in 2026-27 through five overtimes and 18 games, and that kind of finishing touch has become part of his identity. He has long been at his best when the ice opens up, and 3-on-3 gives him exactly the kind of room he thrives in.
The numbers back up the eye test in a big way. According to PostHockey, no NHL player with at least 60 minutes of 3-on-3 ice time over the last five years has produced more shot attempts per hour (iCF/60), shots on goal per hour (iSF/60), or individual expected goals per hour (ixG/60) than Hughes.
He’s also one goal behind the league lead in overtime winners over that span, with nine, and every one of his overtime points for New Jersey has been a primary point. None have been secondary assists.
His impact doesn’t stop there. No player has been on the ice for more expected goals in that five-year stretch, and that list includes Quinn Hughes, who has nearly 50 more minutes of 3-on-3 ice time over the last five campaigns. Only Devon Toews has a better expected goal share than Jack’s 66.2%.
Devils fans have seen this movie before. Overtime doesn’t carry the same panic when Jack Hughes is out there, because he can take over the whole thing himself. The rest of the hockey world got a front-row look at it when he dominated the best players in the world in this setting at the Olympics, and he keeps proving it again and again.
Connor McDavid may be the best player in the world overall, but when the game shifts to 3-on-3, nobody does it better than Jack Hughes.
In Other News...
Devils May Face A Brutal Price To Chase Quinn Hughes
The idea of the Devils going after Quinn Hughes has the kind of appeal that naturally follows a team looking to strengthen its blue line, especially when a proven defenseman is the name at the center of the conversation. The speculation points to a deal built around players and draft picks, which is exactly the sort of package that can make a contender pause, even before any real talks get serious.
For New Jersey, the attraction is obvious: Hughes would fit the kind of high-end defensive upgrade that changes the look of a roster. But the cost is where the story gets complicated, because any pursuit would likely require parting with meaningful pieces the Devils would rather keep. For now, it remains a hypothetical worth watching, with no confirmed trade or official negotiation to point to yet. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Prospect Pipeline Takes Another Hit With Orlov Suddenly Sidelined
The Devils prospect pool took another jolt this week when Daniil Orlov was sidelined after a training accident led to back surgery, a setback that is expected to keep the 22-year-old defenseman out for the rest of the season. Orlov, who is under contract with Spartak Moskva, had been building momentum with a strong start before the injury interrupted his year.
For New Jersey, it is the latest reminder of how fragile the path can be for young defensemen overseas. Orlov had been one of the more encouraging Russian options in the system, and his absence adds to a run of injury trouble that has already affected other Devils Russian blueline prospects, thinning the organizations depth chart at a position it has been trying to cultivate carefully. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Let A Winnable Game Slip Away In Frustrating Loss
Dawson Mercer gave the Devils a lift with two goals, including the game-winner, but it was Winnipeg leaving with the points after a 4-2 result that felt there for New Jersey to take. Jesper Bratt and Cody Glass also found the net for the Devils, yet the offense never quite turned a solid start into the kind of finish that usually decides these tight games.
Kyle Connor matched Mercer with two goals of his own for the Jets, and Winnipegs ability to answer kept New Jersey from ever fully pulling away. The loss drops the Devils to 13-6-0, a reminder that even in a strong start to the season, missed chances can turn a winnable night into a frustrating one. [Read more 🡒]