How Hughes Redefined Stamina and Strategy

We are looking at an extraordinary time-on-ice shift. Jack Hughes has officially been on the ice for 5 minutes and 3 seconds of game time straight. The Devils are down three, trying to get the puck through. Hughes creates space, shoots, and scores. Jack Hughes has done it again—his seventh goal in the last seven games. The Devils are now within two. He controls the puck, twists and turns in the offensive zone. Hamilton gets it to him. Watch the nifty move to the middle. A screen by Dawson Mercer, and Jack Hughes lets a wrist shot go past the glove side. It's 6-4. This team won't go away quietly.

Coach Lindy Ruff pulled the goalie with 7:52 to go. It takes about a minute and 40 seconds, but the Devils pull within two on Jack Hughes's 14th goal of the year. The net is empty again with 5:58 to play. Hughes is the extra attacker. He centers, looking for a play. Tatar keeps it alive. The puck rolls, and it's icing with 5:16 to go. The net stays empty. The crowd is on its feet. This strategy has changed the game, making it more exciting. The Devils had only pulled their goalie once all year before this. This is the second time in 27 games. They are getting crucial situational practice.

Jack Hughes has been on the ice for essentially the last two and a half minutes straight, minus a brief 10-second break. He scored during this empty-net stretch. Hamilton makes a cross-ice pass. A shot is attempted, but Varlamov makes a crucial save with the pad. The score remains 6-4. The Devils are attempting an improbable comeback. If they succeed, we'll have much to discuss. If not, we still have their next road game at the Garden on Monday, where they will try to tie an NHL record with 12 consecutive road victories. But now, there are only 4:37 left.

The game has gotten interesting. The Devils pulled the goalie with about 7.5 minutes left. Jack Hughes scored to make it a two-goal game. The net is still empty with 4:36 to go. Hughes is out with five forwards and one defenseman. They maintain pressure. Hughes makes a play to Hamilton. There's a battle in the corner. Tatar moves it to Hughes, who recently scored. A cross-ice pass is deflected. With 3:38 to play, Hughes even acts as a goalie, making a two-handed save to keep the puck out. This team does not quit. Jack Hughes seems capable of everything—he has a goal, an assist, and now two saves. Time is running down to 3:03. The Devils still need two goals.

Holtz to Hughes. A shot by Eric Hall hits the crossbar. Unbelievable. Hughes remains on the ice. He has been out for over 3:23 consecutively, with only a 10-second bench break after his goal. In total, he's played about 5.5 of the last 5:45. Marino takes a risk, but Varlamov makes the save. Eric Hall nearly made it a one-goal game. Hughes earlier batted the puck away with a double glove save and made a kick save. He has been everywhere. This has been five minutes of sustained puck possession with the goalie out.

Hamilton hits the crossbar. Unreal. Jack Hughes is still out there. That's about six of the last 6 minutes and 10 seconds of ice time for Hughes. He takes a hit but continues. The Islanders ice the puck. Some nights aren't yours, but the Devils' effort since pulling the goalie has been strong. They got one goal from Hughes, then a crossbar from Hamilton. They have made it very interesting.

Jack Hughes signaled to the bench after a faceoff, getting a call from associate coach Andrew Brunette. He switched positions with Hamilton, suggesting a designed play. However, the Islanders win the draw. The Devils keep it in. Brat finds Hughes. After a check, Hughes spins it back to Hamilton. This is a marathon effort from Hughes. Hamilton's shot goes wide. Hughes sets him up again. Hamilton recollects along the boards. Hughes has now played 4.5 minutes consecutively and over six of the last 6.5 minutes. Only 1:30 remains. Hamilton shoots, but there's no rebound. Hughes gets it back with 1:20 left.

They have made the Islanders uncomfortable for the last six minutes. Tatar rips a shot wide. Hamilton's shot through traffic is blocked by Mayfield. Clutterbuck misses a chance at the empty net, shooting wide instead. It's icing, forcing tired Islanders to stay on the ice. The Devils call a timeout. Both sides can catch their breath.

We've seen numerous chances by the Devils. Another attempt banks off Varlamov. There have been a couple of crossbars. This timeout is sponsored. Andrew Brunette was seen drawing up plays. On the last faceoff, Hughes skated to the bench, got instructions, and signaled to the team for a designed play. He has been terrific all season and has had the puck constantly these last 7.5 minutes.

I don't know if you'll ever see something like this again. We're looking at the time-on-ice shift. Jack Hughes has been on the ice for 5 minutes and 3 seconds straight. The only bench time was about 10-15 seconds after his goal when the goalie briefly returned. Once the Devils regained possession, the goalie came off, and Hughes returned as the extra attacker. So, it's essentially a 7-minute marathon shift for Hughes. His next shot is blocked by Clutterbuck, allowing the Islanders to finally change. That was a good block by Clutterbuck, who may have taken it off the ankle. He got in the lane, which is crucial against the extra attacker.

Only 50 seconds remain. The Devils still need two goals. Clutterbuck's earlier goal provided the Islanders' insurance, their sixth. The Devils have scored two since. Mercer to Hughes up top. Hamilton's blast is blocked again. The puck goes to Brat. 35 seconds left. Hamilton, under pressure, works around a defender and passes to Mercer behind the net. Mayfield steps in, clears it toward the empty net. It doesn't have the legs and goes wide. It's icing with 21.5 seconds left. The Islanders remain up by two despite everything the Devils have thrown at them for the last 7 minutes.

Time is running out—only 21.5 seconds left. But it's great to see this team not quit, understanding they're never out of a game. They were down four goals and are still down two, but they had plenty of chances to cut the lead to one. With a little more puck luck, maybe they would have. They fell behind early, as the Islanders were strong through two periods. But the Devils turned it up in the third to make it interesting. Pulling the goalie, regardless of the final outcome, set a new tone and gives the Devils something positive to build on as they head to the Garden. Hughes will chase the puck down with 12 seconds left. The Islanders built a 6-2 lead and look to escape with a win despite the Devils' late charge. The Garden awaits the Devils on Monday after this 6-4 Islanders win in Newark on Friday night. The Devils get a day to rest and clean up mistakes, but their third-period effort, especially after pulling the goalie with 7:30 left, was commendable.