Hischier scores 42 seconds into OT, Devils beat Predators 3-2 after Jack Hughes leaves in 1st period | National Sports

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Nico Hischier scored 42 seconds into overtime to give the Devils a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night after New Jersey’s Jack Hughes left the game in the first period and didn’t return.

Hischier’s slap shot from just beyond the left faceoff circle beat Nashville’s Justus Annunen high to the glove side for the winner. Dawson Mercer picked up the assist on Hischier’s eighth career overtime goal. Hischier leads the Devils with 18 goals and 23 assists in 54 games.

kAm}6H y6CD6JVD y6DA6C qC2EE E:65 E96 82>6 2E a >:5H2J E9C@F89 E96 E9:C5] s@F8:6 w2>:=E@? 2=D@ D4@C65 7@C E96 s6G:=D[ H9@ D?2AA65 2 EH@\82>6 D<:5] y24@3 |2C >256 af D2G6D]k^Am

kAmwF896D =67E E96 82>6 27E6C E9C66 D9:7ED 😕 E96 7:CDE A6C:@5] r@249 $96=5@? z6676 D2:5 :E H2D 2 =@H6C\3@5J :?;FCJ 2?5 E92E wF896D H@F=5 36 C6\6G2=F2E65 uC:52J[ 3FE E92E 96 5:5 ?@E 36=:6G6 :E H2D D6C:@FD]k^Am

kAmwF896D’ =2E6DE 23D6?46 4@>6D EH@ H666 2E E96 |:=2? r@CE:?2 ~=J>A:4D] wF896D[ 2=@?8 H:E9 3C@E96C “F:??[ 😀 2 7:CDE\E:>6 ~=J>A:2?]k^Am

kAm|:4926= |4r2CC@? 2?5 u:=:A u@CD36C8 D4@C65 7@C }2D9G:==6[ H9:49 =@DE :ED E9:C5 DEC2:89E] p??F?6? >256 ba D2G6D]k^Am

kAm|4r2CC@? DE2<65 }2D9G:==6 E@ 2? 62C=J =625 H:E9 2 8@2= 7:G6 >:?FE6D :?E@ E96 7:CDE A6C:@5] w2>:=E@? E:65 :E 2E ` >:5H2J E9C@F89 E96 D64@?5[ 6IE6?5:?8 9:D A@:?ED DEC62< E@ ?:?6 82>6D]k^Am

kAmu@CD36C8 82G6 E96 !C652E@CD E96 =625 `ibc :?E@ E96 E9:C5 A6C:@5] (:E9 E96 8@2=[ u@CD36C8 >@G6D :?E@ D:IE9 A=246 7@C 42C66C }w{ 8@2=D 3J 2 $H65:D9 A=2J6C H:E9 bbg D4@C6D 😕 gbb 82>6D] w6 EC2:=D |2ED $F?5:? WdecX[ s2?:6= p=7C65DD@? WcccX[ |2C2D $2?5DEC@> WbhcX[ s2?:6= $65:? WbhbX]k^Am

kAmqC2EEVD `b 8@2= @7 E96 D62D@? 42>6 @? 2 !C652E@CD EFC?@G6C[ 7=:AA:?8 2 D9@E @G6C p??F?6? E@ E:6 E96 82>6]k^Am

k9am&A ?6IEk^9am

kAm!C652E@CDi pE E96 }6H *@C< xD=2?56CD @? $2EFC52J]k^Am

kAms6G:=Di pE E96 ~EE2H2 $6?2E@CD @? $2EFC52J]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAmp! }w{i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^?9=Qm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^?9=k^2mk^Am

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.