An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Jack Hughes celebrates after scoring a third period goal in the Devils’ 6-3 win over the Rangers on March 18, 2026 at the Garden, Image 2 shows Jonathan Quick makes a save on Timo Meier during the second period of the Rangers’ loss to the Devils at the Garden
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Of course, it came down to Jack Hughes. Against these Rangers, and with these Devils, who else would it be?
Hughes, who collected a hat trick when these teams met two weeks ago, entered Wednesday night with 19 goals and 32 points in 24 career games against the Blueshirts. With the Rangers threatening in the third period and the Garden crowd alive after pulling within one, the Team USA hero at the Winter Olympics morphed into the Battle of the Hudson villain once again.
He weaved through a pair of Rangers, got the puck back in space and ripped a shot past Jonathan Quick with 6:55 left in the third period, providing the insurance the Devils needed in the Rangers’ 6-3 loss. Vladislav Gavrikov, Mika Zibanejad and Conor Sheary scored for the Blueshirts (28-32-8), who nearly overcame the losses of defenseman Urho Vaakanainen (upper-body injury) and forward Noah Laba (lower-body injury).
Still, New York fell to 0-6 in rivalry games against the Devils and Islanders this season. They’ve been outscored 26-9 in those matches, too.
Jack Hughes celebrates after scoring a third period goal in the Devils’ 6-3 win over the Rangers on March 18, 2026 at the Garden. NHLI via Getty Images
“We weren’t good enough,” head coach Mike Sullivan said of the Rangers, who have dropped consecutive games after earning points in eight of nine games following the Olympic break. “I didn’t think we were good enough all night long. We pushed in the third, but it’s hard to win games when you only play a period.”
In a way, this — and all the rivalry games so far — served as a microcosm of the Rangers’ hockey reality in the city right now. They’re at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The Devils have Hughes, who became a hero with his iconic goal last month in Milan. The Islanders have Matthew Schaefer, the electrifying No. 1 overall pick, and the potential for the playoff berth on Long Island.
And the Blueshirts, as this latest loss illustrated, are stuck in the middle of a retool, awaiting the arrival of their next captivating star after the gradual destruction of their previous core.
Based on how the first period went, it felt as if the Rangers’ deficit could’ve been worse than a goal. They couldn’t connect on passes. They were outshot 17-3 by the Devils. One of those happened to be a goal, though, as Gavrikov’s shot from the point made it through and ended up as his 14th goal of the season — continuing to shatter his previous career high. But the Devils quickly responded with a power-play goal from Nico Hischier, who swatted the puck out of the air like he was swinging a baseball bat, and a tally from Arseny Gritsyuk.
Zibanejad’s goal 19 seconds into the second period shifted momentum back toward the Rangers. Sheary’s second goal in five games did, too, in the third even after Connor Brown had scored with the man-advantage and Timo Meier had added a goal off a rebound to make it a 4-2 game.
But then Hughes issued a reminder of his status in the Battle of the Hudson. He had a 2-on-1 in the first period, but Rangers defenseman Matthew Robertson broke it up. He blew past Braden Schneider and flew toward Jonathan Quick later in the game, but the veteran goaltender — who made 33 saves and managed to keep the Rangers within striking distance — made the save.
“We weren’t physical enough,” J.T. Miller said, “and we turned the puck over too many times. He didn’t have to stop too much. We let him play with speed and pace, and he’s a really special player.”
Jonathan Quick makes a save on Timo Meier during the second period of the Rangers’ loss to the Devils at the Garden. Robert Sabo for New York Post
So it felt like a matter of time before Hughes broke through. He always did against the Blueshirts.
The Rangers kept Hughes quiet for more than 40 minutes, outside of a primary assist on the Brown goal, but eventually, he provided the dagger when New Jersey needed it most.
“I had breakaways, 2-on-1s, and that was more, for me, I wanted that one, you know?” Hughes said of his goal. “I wanted that for my team because I had so many good looks.”