NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — U.S. Olympic hero Jack Hughes was honored by the New Jersey Devils before their loss to Buffalo on Wednesday night as NHL play resumed following a three-week break.
Buffalo won for the seventh time in 10 games, 2-1, on goals from fellow U.S. Olympian Tage Thompson and Peyton Krebs.
The Devils showed video of Hughes’ overtime goal in the United States’ 2-1 victory over Canada on Sunday in the gold medal game in Milan. The 24-year-old center lost a few teeth in the third period of that game when he was high-sticked by Sam Bennett.
New Jersey Devils’ Jack Hughes (86) greets fans as he walks toward the ice before an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Newark, N.J.(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
“I’m so proud and so happy that the men’s and women’s hockey teams brought the gold medal back to America,” Hughes told the crowd. “And I’m so proud to represent the New Jersey Devils organization and to represent the great state of New Jersey.”
“I get goosebumps when I watch it back,” Hughes said after the game.
Hughes joked about his missing teeth.
“I’d have to look in the mirror and add it up,” he said. “I have a couple of half- teeth.”
Hughes assisted on Timo Meier’s goal late in the third. Hughes also had a turnover that led to the second Buffalo goal.
“Obviously, this was a tough one for Jack,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. “It’s been a whirlwind for him. He had a lot of short shifts early and Jack’s not a short shift guy. If he’s giving you short shifts, you know he’s not quite feeling it early. All things considered, he gave us a lot.”
Hughes was not at the morning skate Wednesday. He arrived in New Jersey late Tuesday night after being recognized with his U.S. teammates by President Donald Trump at the State of the Union address.
Earlier in the week, a popular deli near the Prudential Center named a sandwich after Hughes. The sandwich is advertised as being ‘so tender, you don’t need teeth.
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