NEWARK, N.J. — In a thrilling matchup, Jack Hughes netted his 13th goal during a decisive third period, leading the New Jersey Devils to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night.

This performance included contributions from Dawson Mercer and Timo Meier, each tallying a goal and an assist, which helped elevate the Devils’ record to 7-3-1 over their last eleven games. Nico Hischier also added to the scoreline, while goalie Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves, boosting his season record to 15-6-2.

Despite trailing 1-0 at the end of two periods, New Jersey launched a powerful offensive surge against Drew Commesso, who was making his NHL debut. Commesso recorded 20 saves during the game.

The game’s lone goal for Chicago came from Jason Dickinson, whose shot in the second period ricocheted off the crossbar and then bounced off the face of Devils’ defenseman Luke Hughes, finding the net.

Mercer equalized for New Jersey early in the third period after receiving an assist from Luke Hughes. The Devils then took control of the game, scoring three goals in a span of just over two minutes. Hughes put New Jersey ahead at 10:28, finishing after a lengthy possession, followed by Hischier’s 16th goal at 12:16, and Meier’s 10th just 18 seconds later at 12:34.

Chicago faced a similar scenario earlier in the week when they allowed three quick goals in the third period during a 5-4 defeat to the New York Islanders.

For the Devils, Jesper Bratt and Brett Pesce each provided two assists in this game, showcasing their depth in playmaking.

Takeaways from the game revealed that the Blackhawks have struggled to secure wins in tightly contested matches. Despite getting off to a strong start, Commesso shined during the initial two periods but could not fend off the barrage in the final segment.

For the Devils, strong defensive play has been a hallmark as they successfully kept their opponents under 20 shots on goal in the last three games of a five-game homestand, concluding with a record of 3-1-1 in that stretch.

A notable moment occurred when Blackhawks’ rising star Connor Bedard struck the crossbar early in the third period while on a power play, a missed opportunity that could have changed the game’s dynamic.

Both teams struggled on the power play, finishing 0 for 3 on that front throughout the match.

Looking ahead, the Blackhawks will host the Islanders on Sunday, while the Devils will travel to St. Louis for a matchup on Tuesday night.