NEW YORK — Jack Hughes scored his second goal just 2 minutes and 35 seconds into overtime, leading the New Jersey Devils to a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday night. The triumph marked the Devils’ third consecutive win in the NHL season. Goalkeeper Jacob Markstrom made 19 saves for New Jersey to secure the victory.

For the Islanders, Simon Holmstrom contributed with a goal and an assist, while Dennis Cholowski and Brock Nelson also found the net. Despite the loss, New York’s two-game winning streak came to an end, with goaltender Ilya Sorokin making 29 saves in the match.

During the overtime, a crucial moment occurred when Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock broke his stick. This misfortune allowed Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton to seize the opportunity and executed a smart outlet pass to set up Hughes for a clear breakaway, leading to the game-winning goal. Earlier in the third period, Cholowski and Nelson scored just 1 minute and 56 seconds apart, giving the Islanders a 3-1 lead.

However, the Devils fought back as Dawson Mercer narrowed the deficit with just over four and a half minutes left on the clock. Stefan Noesen then brought the game to a tie, scoring with only 50 seconds remaining after his intended pass for Nico Hischier deflected off the skate of Grant Hutton and past Sorokin.

Notable observations from the game include the Islanders’ defensemen, who have only scored a total of two goals this season, both by Cholowski. On the opposite side, 21-year-old defenseman Luke Hughes may not have racked up points, but has shown considerable progress in his defensive play this season, thanks to the mentorship of veteran Brett Pesce, who joined the Devils in the offseason on a six-year contract to enhance the leadership of the younger defensive lineup.

One of the pivotal moments of the match was Pesce’s critical defensive maneuver against Bo Horvat in the early stages of overtime, preventing the Islanders from capitalizing on a scoring opportunity.

In another interesting stat, the Islanders have dominated faceoffs, winning more than 50 percent in 14 consecutive games. Players such as Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Brock Nelson, and Bo Horvat all maintain a faceoff winning percentage exceeding 50 percent this season.

Looking ahead, the Devils are set to host the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, while the Islanders will embark on a five-game road trip, beginning their journey in Edmonton.