Herculean Jack Hughes Effort Can’t Buoy Devils Past Stars

NEWARK—Jack Hughes did all he could, but the New Jersey Devils couldn’t overcome the early hole they dug themselves in versus the Dallas Stars.

In their first game returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the expectation was that the time off would do the Devils some good. Nico Hischier returned from injury, Hughes just played in a high-stakes tournament, and the well-rested Devils were looking to change the trajectory of their play from where they left off.

Despite a solid start for the Devils inside the first five minutes, the Stars converted on their first shot of the game to take an early 1-0 lead. Evgenii Dadonov found a loose puck at the top of Jake Allen’s crease, and pushed the puck over the goal line as a result of blown Devils defensive coverage by Simon Nemec.

Lian Bichsel played the role of agitator for the Stars, and he quickly got under the New Jersey’s skin. After a whistle for offside halted play in the first period, Bichsel dumped Dougie Hamilton to the ice, drawing a reaction from Brenden Dillon. The officials stepped between Bichsel and Dillon, however, the Devils’ defenseman poked at the Stars rookie with his stick.

The result was a Stars power play that ended in Thomas Harley doubling Dallas’ lead to 2-0.

At the 11:36 mark of the first period, the Devils got their first opportunity on the power play after Harley tripped Jesper Bratt.

The Devils did apply some decent pressure to Dallas goaltender, Casey DeSmith. However, he came up with three saves and ultimately helped the Stars kill the penalty.

In the second period, the Devils went to the penalty kill early, a double minor as a result of a high-stick by Hischier on Oskar Back.

The aggressive Devils PK, although missing Hischier, got the job done and maintained their two-goal deficit. A bit of life was injected into the Devils once even strength play resumes.

In the offensive zone, Brett Pesce picked up his own rebound and found Timo Meier on DeSmith’s back door. What should have been an easy goal was robbed by a sprawling DeSmith who kept Meier and the Devils off the board.

Despite a stronger second period, the Devils remained down two goals going into the second intermission.

Halfway through the third period, Ilya Lyubushkin was called for holding Meier. The Devils went to the power play and finally got on the board. Jack Hughes converted on a one-time chance from the right circle to cut the Stars’ lead by one.

Matt Duchene however, regained Dallas’ two-goal lead after he received a pass from Jaime Benn in New Jersey’s slot uncovered, and beat Allen stick-side.

The Stars’ second two-goal lead only lasted just over one minute. Back in the offensive zone, it was Jack Hughes again—this time from the left circle—who wired a slapshot by DeSmith at even strength to make it a 3-2 game.

Allen was pulled with just under a minute left in regulation and the Devils went on the attack with an extra man. Lyubushkin took a late high-sticking penalty, and New Jersey played 6-on-4 for the final 44 seconds.

Wyatt Johnston hit the empty-net, however, and the Stars prevailed 4-2 in regulation.