LAS VEGAS - The Hughes name had a big Friday, and the Hughes brothers made sure the New Jersey Devils’ side of the ledger looked even better.
Jack and Luke Hughes powered New Jersey to a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena, with Jack scoring twice and Luke getting the Devils on the board first. Arseny Gritsyuk added two goals of his own, giving New Jersey a top line that accounted for four goals and five points.
Jack Hughes was especially dangerous, and he very nearly left with a hat trick. Adin Hill beat him on a chance in the second period, one of several strong saves Hill made while trying to keep Vegas within reach.
Luke Hughes opened the scoring, and New Jersey later got the tiebreaking and game-winning damage from Jack. Connor Hellebuyck, making his second start for the Devils after last week’s blockbuster trade from the Winnipeg Jets, was in net as New Jersey handled the game’s key moments better than Vegas did.
“We didn’t do a good enough job against them,” said Ivan Barbashev, who scored the goal that briefly gave Vegas the lead. “We started turning the puck over and gave them everything they wanted to do. We have to play better.”
Vegas had just come off a 4-1 win over Ottawa on Tuesday, but Friday’s loss was its fourth in the last five games. Now the Golden Knights head east for a demanding stretch, beginning Monday in Boston against the Bruins. That trip also includes a back-to-back in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night, a game in Detroit next Thursday and a finish in Buffalo a week from Sunday.
“We didn’t help ourselves,” Knights coach Ryan Craig said. New Jersey is a good team and they’re going to capitalize on your mistakes.
But it starts with our puck play and turnovers. We didn’t check well enough and we just have to be better.”
The Devils’ surge through the middle of the night came after Vegas had twice found a response. Mark Stone scored on the power play, and Barbashev later pushed the Knights ahead 2-1.
But that edge barely lasted. With 1:09 left in the first period, Gritsyuk scored to tie it, and the comeback feeling for Vegas evaporated fast.
Just 53 seconds later, Gritsyuk struck again to make it 2-2, flipping the game right back to New Jersey. From there, Jack Hughes took over. He picked Jack Eichel’s pocket, danced around Mark Stone and then snapped a shot past Hill to make it 3-2 with a goal that was every bit as slick as it looked.
Hill answered with a highlight-reel save later in the period, lunging and using his shoulder to deny Hughes. But the Knights never built enough pressure to make that stop matter.
Vegas finished with only 21 shots, including just 15 through two periods against Hellebuyck. That lack of sustained offense was a major reason the Golden Knights couldn’t keep pace.
“Our execution wasn’t there,” said defenseman Shea Theodore. “Our physicality wasn’t there. We weren’t getting in on the forecheck and we had too many turnovers.”
There were a couple of smaller positives on a rough night. Carter Hart was back dressed on the bench behind Hill after injuring himself in Tuesday’s pregame skate at City National Arena. He practiced Thursday and should be available on the upcoming road trip.
And Brayden McNabb reached a major milestone, appearing in his 900th NHL game. Theodore called attention to the longtime defenseman’s impact.
“He’s been a leader here from the start and he plays a good, hard game, so to watch him play, for him to get to 900, it doesn’t go unnoticed,” Theodore said of his longtime blueline partner.
Craig said he still believes the Golden Knights can turn things around on the road trip. Vegas sits second in the Pacific Division, one point behind Edmonton, and the upcoming schedule will bring matchups with the Bruins, Red Wings, Sabres and Penguins.
“We’re creating opportunities. We haven’t finished well,” Craig said his team, which has just 11 goals in its last five contests. “We’re not playing with the lead as much as we had been earlier.
“When we manage the puck and we check, we’re going to create enough opportunities that are going to go in. (Friday), our guys responded from the first one to get two. We just have to stay with it.”
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