Luke Hughes led the way with two of the New Jersey Devils’ four second-period goals to help bury their rival New York Rangers 7-1 in Newark, N.J. on Thursday.
Nico Daws stopped 18 shots in the victory, while Nico Hischier, Arseny Gritsyuk, Evan Rodrigues, Cody Glass, and Stefan Noesen all joined Hughes on the scoresheet.
Timo Meier, Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Dawson Mercer, and Amadeus Lombardi all picked up a pair of assists each.
Pavel Dorofeyev scored the Rangers’ lone goal as they allowed more than three goals for the first time this season.
Rodrigues took advantage of a tough giveaway and ripped it past Dylan Garand with 30 seconds remaining in the first period to give the Devils the lead.
Hughes fired a point shot that bounced off a defender and snuck through the legs of Garand to double the Devils’ advantage just 18 seconds into the middle frame.
Hischier then made it 3-0 barely over four minutes into the second. After the Devils captain fired his shot wide on an odd-man rush, he stuck around and poked a rebound past the pad of an outstretched Garand.
The Devils kept rolling just 31 seconds later as Gritsyuk made up for a missed breakaway by pouncing on a rebound and lighting the lamp, marking the end of Garand’s night after he allowed four goals on 13 shots.
Spencer Martin gave up three goals on 18 shots in relief.
The youngest Hughes brother showcased his impressive skillset as he walked the blueline and cut in toward the net. He sent a shot off the far post and into the back of the net for his second goal of the night with 3:26 left in the second.
Noesen buried his first goal of the season to make it 6-0 with just over seven minutes gone in the third period.
Dorofeyev spoiled Daws’ shutout bid with a power-play marker just over a minute later.
Glass got in on the action to make it 7-1 with just over five minutes left in the contest.