Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier all scored in about two minutes to help the New Jersey Devils finish a four-goal outburst in the third period, leading them to a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday afternoon in Newark, N.J.
Dawson Mercer started the comeback at 2:45 into the third period for the Devils, who won their last two games of a five-game homestand (3-1-1). Goalie Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves in the win.
Jason Dickinson scored the only goal for the Blackhawks in the second period. Chicago has now lost seven of their last eight games. They gave up three goals in just 2:19 in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders, and they have lost 12 games this season in which they scored first.
Chicago goalie Drew Commesso, who was making his second NHL appearance and first start, recorded 20 saves.
Dickinson’s unusual goal was the only score in the first two periods. His shot hit off Markstrom, hit the far post, then bounced off Luke Hughes’ face and rolled into the net with 6:29 left in the second.
Mercer, who was wearing a face guard after being hit in the face by a puck on Thursday, tied the game when he took a backhanded pass from Luke Hughes and fired a shot past Commesso’s stick.
Jack Hughes gave the Devils the lead with 9:32 remaining after Jesper Bratt made a great defensive play. Bratt checked Wyatt Kaiser, recovered the puck, and passed it to Brett Pesce. Pesce then passed it to Jack Hughes, who scored with a powerful slapshot that beat Commesso on the stick side.
Hischier stole a pass from Kevin Korchinski and led a three-on-two attack. Hischier scored with 7:44 left when he managed to push the puck through Commesso’s legs while being pushed from behind by TJ Brodie.
Meier added another goal just 18 seconds later, putting in the rebound of a shot from Mercer.
