Devils Defeat Rangers Behind Jack Hughes' Hat Trick

New Jersey's star center leads his team to a 6-3 victory over their division rivals.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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In a matchup between two of the top teams in the Metropolitan Division, the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 6-3 behind a dominant performance from center Jack Hughes. Hughes recorded a hat trick and added an assist to pace the Devils' offense, while goaltender Jacob Markstrom made several key saves to preserve the victory.

Why it matters

This win is a big boost for the Devils as they look to solidify their position atop the division standings. The Rangers, meanwhile, will need to regroup after this divisional loss, which could have implications for the playoff race down the stretch.

The details

Hughes opened the scoring with a short-handed goal in the first period, then added two more goals in the second period to complete his hat trick. Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer also scored for the Devils, while Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Borgen tallied for the Rangers. Markstrom made 35 saves in the winning effort.

  • The game was played on March 7, 2026.
  • The Devils defeated the Rangers by a final score of 6-3.

The players

Jack Hughes

The Devils' star center, who recorded a hat trick and an assist in the victory.

Jacob Markstrom

The Devils' goaltender, who made 35 saves to preserve the win.

Nico Hischier

The Devils' captain, who scored a power-play goal in the win.

Dawson Mercer

The Devils' young forward, who also scored a power-play goal in the game.

Vladislav Gavrikov

The Rangers' defenseman, who scored a goal in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough divisional matchup, but our guys really stepped up and played a complete game. Jack was dominant out there, and Jacob made some big saves when we needed them.”

— Sheldon Keefe, Devils Head Coach (Devils' official website)

What’s next

The Devils will look to build on this win as they continue their push for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, while the Rangers will aim to bounce back in their next game.

The takeaway

This game showcased the depth and talent of the Devils, led by the superstar performance of Jack Hughes. The Rangers will need to regroup and find a way to slow down the Devils' high-powered offense if they hope to keep pace in the division race.