Jack Hughes’ life changed forever after what happened Sunday at the Winter Olympics. A return to the NHL regular season grind awaits.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jack Hughes’ life will be forever changed after what happened Sunday at the Winter Olympics.
The 24-year-old center scored the winning goal 1 minute, 41 seconds into overtime as the U.S. men’s hockey team stunned Canada 2-1 in the gold medal game. That moment quickly sparked massive celebrations across the pond.
Sabres fans who jumped for joy when he scored on Sunday morning will soon see him again. Hughes and the New Jersey Devils will host Buffalo — in the first game following the Olympic break for both teams — at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Newark.
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Hughes and his American teammates were supposed to board the same plane to New York City, where everyone would catch connecting flights to wherever it is they needed to go as the NHL regular season starts to wind down. But during its postgame coverage, NBC announced that Team USA would instead fly to Miami, citing the severe winter weather that’s impacting travel in the Northeast.
That could also impact plans for Sabres star Tage Thompson. After Wednesday’s game at New Jersey, the Sabres will travel south for a Friday night game with the Florida Panthers. Buffalo plays Saturday night at Tampa Bay.
Thompson could stay in South Florida, miss Wednesday’s game in New Jersey, then rejoin his teammates when they arrive for Friday’s game.
Thompson has 30 goals and 29 assists in 57 games this season for the Sabres, who are attempting to end their 14-year NHL playoff drought. He finished with Winter Olympics with four points and — most importantly — a gold medal after the Hughes golden goal.