Jack Hughes scored a hat trick and added an assist as the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 6-3 on Saturday night, extending their winning streak to four games. Hughes, who now has 24 career goals against the Rangers, opened the scoring on the power play before netting his second goal on a breakaway and sealing the victory with an empty-net tally. The win comes as the Devils remain nine points out of a playoff spot, though their recent form offers a glimmer of hope for their postseason chances.

Nico Hischier provided the go-ahead goal with a power-play marker at 8:05 of the third period, his 21st of the season. Jesper Bratt and Dawson Mercer also scored for New Jersey, while Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves in goal. The Rangers, coming off a 6-2 win over Toronto on Thursday, struggled to contain the Devils' offense, falling to 4-12-3 since their Winter Classic victory over Florida on January 2nd.

Hughes' performance highlights his resurgence, particularly against divisional rivals. His second hat trick of the season underscores his importance to the Devils' offense, especially with key players like Bratt and Mercer contributing consistently. The Rangers' continued struggles suggest their playoff hopes remain distant, while the Devils' streak keeps them in the race for the final wild-card spot.