James Nichols
Another accolade for New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes? Sure, why not?
Hughes was named the NHL’s second star of the week on Monday. He led the Devils with a league-high 3-6—9 in four games, helping the team earn points in three of four contests (2-1-1 record) and reach 40-34-3 with 83 points.
Hughes was held off the scoresheet in a 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers on March 31. He responded with a career-high 2-3—5, including his 27th career game-winning goal, in a 7-3 victory over the Washington Capitals on April 2. Jesper Bratt also secured five points in the contest with a goal and four assists playing on Hughes’ wing.
Against the Montreal Canadiens on April 4, Hughes scored once and recorded the primary assist on the tying goal during a comeback from a three-goal deficit in a 4-3 shootout loss. He added two assists in a 3-0 win over Montreal on April 5.
The 24-year-old centers the Devils with 25-47—72 through 56 games this season. Since scoring the golden goal for the United States at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, Hughes leads the NHL with 13-23—36 in 20 appearances. He’s also registered 11 multi-point games in that span.
As a result, the Devils are 12-7-1 in their last 20 games, which is a 102.5 point pace, enough to certainly put the Devils in playoff position if the 2025-26 season had gone under better circumstances.
Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins earned first star after leading the NHL with seven goals (7-1—8) in five games, powering Pittsburgh to a 4-1-0 week and 40-22-16 (96 points). Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues was named third star with 5-3—8 in four games as St. Louis went 2-1-1.
