The Chicago Blackhawks (27-34-13) let a one-goal lead quickly turn into a one-goal deficit in the third period, allowing two goals in 19 seconds in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils (38-33-2) at the Prudential Center on Sunday. It’s the second time in as many meetings this season where the Blackhawks blew a third-period lead en route to defeat at the hands of the Devils.
With the score tied 2-2 through 40 minutes, the Blackhawks snagged a 3-2 lead at 10:51 of the third period, as Frank Nazar scored on a 5-on-3 power play for his second goal of the game. Only nine minutes separated the Hawks from earning a split during their four-game East Coast road trip, but they couldn’t hold off Jack Hughes and the Devils’ late push to secure the victory and head back to Chicago on a high note.
Off a feed from Hughes, Dougie Hamilton knotted the score 3-3 at 14:32, burying a wrist shot past goaltender Spencer Knight, who was essential in giving the Blackhawks a chance to win the game with his effort in net. Sadly, the rest of Knight’s teammates didn’t give him enough help on Sunday, especially after Nazar’s power-play tally.
Following Hamilton’s game-tying goal, Devils’ head coach Sheldon Keef kept Hughes’ line on the ice, which proved to be a wise decision. Only 19 seconds later, Hughes used his blazing speed to blow past Alex Vlasic at center ice and score the game-winning goal on a breakaway at 14:51. For good measure, Hughes potted the empty-netter for his second goal and fourth point of the night.
With Matt Grzelcyk missing a fourth consecutive game due to injury, the Blackhawks once again dressed six defensemen who are all 24 years old or younger in New Jersey. The inexperienced blue line has struggled mightily to defend opposing star players during the road trip, and it didn’t get much better against Hughes.
Just five days after allowing New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer to record 17 shot attempts and eight shots on goal, Hughes racked up a whopping 19 shot attempts and eight shots on net as part of his four-point game. He was also credited with 14 individual scoring chances and 10 individual high-danger chances. When Hughes was on the ice, particularly in the final frame, the Blackhawks played with fire by giving him too much time and space. Eventually, he burned them with the game on the line.
It’s a shame the Blackhawks couldn’t hold onto the late one-goal advantage, as the finish overshadows a fabulous showing from a few of their young forwards, who all connected on the potential game-winner near the midway point of the third.
With his power-play strike, Nazar earned his first career multi-goal game, as he also scored earlier in the game during the first period. Anton Frondell, who set up Ilya Mikheyev for the game’s opening goal, secured his first career multi-point game with the secondary assist, giving him four points through four NHL contests. Connor Bedard, who shipped the puck from circle to circle to set up Nazar for the one-timer, picked up his 68th point of the season with the primary helper, giving him a new career high.
Despite a third consecutive loss to conclude the road trip, all three were standouts for the Blackhawks on Sunday, serving as somewhat of a silver lining. Bedard and Nazar continue to look sharp since the Olympic break, while Frondell already seems capable of handling a significant NHL role at 18 years old. While the result wasn’t ideal, there were more encouraging signs from key pieces of the rebuild.
Here are the highlights from the Blackhawks’ 5-3 loss to the Devils, as they remain winless at Prudential Center since December 2019. Only eight games remain in the 2025-26 regular season.
FIRST PERIOD
Ilya Mikheyev opened the scoring for the Blackhawks at 4:19, capitalizing on a brutal turnover from Devils’ goaltender Jake Allen. After Louis Crevier dumped the puck into the offensive zone, Allen couldn’t maintain possession behind his own net. Anton Frondell raced in and sent a pass to Mikheyev out front for his 15th goal of the season. 1-0, Chicago.
Anton Frondell➡️Ilya Mikheyev🚨
Frondell sets up Mikheyev for his 15th goal of the season to put the #Blackhawks ahead 1-0 early! Frondell gets his 3rd primary assist in 4 games.pic.twitter.com/2FQMyl7HYL
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) March 29, 2026
After Wyatt Kaiser was whistled for tripping Paul Cotter at 10:55, the Blackhawks’ penalty kill hit the ice for the first time. New Jersey needed less than 30 seconds to convert and tie the game, as Connor Brown deflected Luke Hughes’ shot from the point at 11:15. 1-1. Chicago’s PK has now allowed a goal in two consecutive games.
It was an active first period from the new-look third line of Andre Burakovsky, Frank Nazar, and Ryan Donato. Nazar registered five shots on goal and seven attempts in 5:49 of ice time, and he also set a new career high with his 13th tally of the season. Ryan Donato won a puck battle down low and found Nazar in the crease to put the Blackhawks ahead 2-1 at 13:11.
Andre Burakovsky➡️Ryan Donato➡️Frank Nazar🚨
Donato finds Nazar out front for his 13th goal of the season to put the #Blackhawks ahead 2-1! Nazar now has 13 points (6G, 7A) over the last 14 games.pic.twitter.com/jTJZgwwJKI
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) March 29, 2026
The Blackhawks took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission, with the two teams tied 13-13 in shots on goal. New Jersey held a slight 12-8 advantage in scoring chances.
SECOND PERIOD
The Devils came storming out of the intermission, registering the first eight shots on goal of the second period. Timo Meier nearly leveled the score on the power play, but Knight made a marvelous glove snag to rob him on a shot from the right circle. Still 2-1.
Eventually, New Jersey got the puck past Knight and tied the game, as Simon Nemec, the overtime hero from the first matchup in early November, wristed a shot through traffic at 15:48. 2-2. That’s Nemec’s fourth goal in two games against Chicago this season. Kaiser appeared to have screened Knight on the shot.
After a strong start, the Blackhawks reverted back to their ways from Thursday and Friday in the second period. Knight was the sole reason they weren’t trailing through 40 minutes, stopping 15 of 16 shots faced in the frame. The game was tied 2-2, but the Devils led 30-18 in shots on goal, 36-20 in scoring chances, and 19-7 in high-danger chances. All the momentum was on their side.
THIRD PERIOD
With Nick Bjugstad and Cody Glass in the penalty box for New Jersey, the Blackhawks had 57 seconds of 5-on-3 power-play time near the midway point of the third period and cashed in to grab the lead. Nazar buried a one-timer off a feed from Connor Bedard for his second goal of the game and 14th of the season to put Chicago ahead 3-2 at 10:51.
Anton Frondell➡️Connor Bedard➡️Frank Nazar🚨
Bedard feeds Nazar for his 2nd goal of the game & 14th of the season to put the #Blackhawks ahead 3-2! Nazar with his first career multi-goal game. Frondell with his first career multi-point game.pic.twitter.com/dPk797EATR
— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) March 30, 2026
Chicago couldn’t hold onto the lead for very long, however, as the Devils evened the score once again less than four minutes later. Dougie Hamilton wired a shot off the post and in from the right circle at 14:32. Dawson Mercer set an effective pick on Ryan Donato, who couldn’t get to his spot in coverage in time. 3-3.
Just 19 seconds later, the Devils struck once again to grab the lead for the first time, with Jack Hughes recording his third point of the game. Hughes raced past Alex Vlasic in the neutral zone and fired a shot past Knight on a breakaway at 14:51. From up by one to down by one in the blink of an eye. 4-3, New Jersey.
Hughes capped off a stellar performance with an empty-net goal, earning his fourth point of the game to seal the comeback win for the Devils. It’s the second time in as many meetings this season in which the Blackhawks have blown a third-period lead en route to a loss to New Jersey.
The final horn sounded at the Prudential Center, sending the Blackhawks to a third consecutive loss to finish their road trip. They’ll return to the United Center and host Jonathan Toews and the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.
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