NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jack Hughes had two goals and three assists and Dawson Mercer scored twice as the New Jersey Devils beat the Washington Capitals 7-3 on Thursday night.
Hughes scored his first goal for the Devils 9:10 into the second period on a wrist shot, assisted by Jesper Bratt and Johnathan Kovacevic. He tacked on a wrist shot 8:10 into the third, assisted by Bratt and Connor Brown. Hughes has 24 goals and 44 assists this season.
Bratt, Dougie Hamilton and Cody Glass also scored for the Devils.
Tom Wilson, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cole Hutson scored for the Capitals.
Jake Allen made 29 saves in the win for the Devils. Logan Thompson had 23 saves for the Capitals.
The loss put Washington three points behind the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Detroit Red Wings. The Philadelphia Flyers are one point ahead of the Caps, all teams are vying for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
Up next – Capitals: Host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.