Jack Hughes scored with 7:02 left in the third period to break a tie and help the New Jersey Devils win 3-1 against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday in Newark, N.J.
Hughes also had two assists, one on Ondrej Palat’s second goal in as many games and another on Brett Pesce’s short-handed goal in the third period.
Jacob Markstrom made 12 saves to lead the Devils to their 14th win in the last 21 games (14-6-1).
Defenseman Jordan Spence scored for the Kings, and David Rittich stopped 23 shots in net. The Kings’ bid for their first seven-game winning streak since October 2021 fell short.
Palat set up Hughes with a slick backhand pass from the right circle, allowing Hughes to score easily and put New Jersey up 2-1. This was Hughes’ 12th goal of the season and his fourth in the last seven games.
Pesce added a goal with 2:43 left in the third period to seal the win with a strong effort in front of the net.
In a scoreless game late in the second period, Spence forced a turnover during a two-on-one rush and took a one-timer from the point after a pass from Alex Laferriere to give the Kings the lead at 16:41.
However, New Jersey responded quickly. Hughes skated across the slot, used a screen, and took a wrist shot that Palat deflected into the net at 18:56 of the second period.
Los Angeles had a penalty shot when Alex Turcotte was hooked by Brenden Dillon during a breakaway at 11:01 of the second period. However, Turcotte missed the shot as he tried to beat Markstrom on the blocker side.
During the second period, New Jersey’s Paul Cotter fell over Los Angeles’ Kevin Fiala and hit the ice. Cotter had trouble getting to the bench but returned to the game shortly after.
