Hughes has goal, two assists for Devils in win against Blue Jackets

NEWARK, N.J. -- Jack Hughes had a goal and two assists for the New Jersey Devils in a 3-1 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Prudential Center on Thursday.

It was the third time Hughes has scored three points during a five-game point streak (four goals, eight assists).
"I'm in a good spot right now in terms of points," Hughes said. "I'm shooting the puck, putting things towards the net. At the same time, I'm only 20 years old so by the time I'm 25, I want to be a completely different player and much better. But for now, I like where my game is at and I've just got to keep it going."

Jesper Bratt and Tomas Tatar each had a goal and an assist, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 31 saves for the Devils (14-16-5), who have won four of their past five games.
"Jack makes a different when he's on the ice," Bratt said. "I think everyone really sees now how big a part of our organization he is. He creates scoring chances every time he's on the ice. He's got that mindset that I like to play with ... to create stuff every time."
Max Domi scored, and Joonas Korpisalo made 25 saves for the Blue Jackets (15-16-1), who have lost three in a row and five of six.
"We had a good start; we played very simple," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "We checked well, made the right plays at the right times and didn't force things. Then it got away from us. It's just not good enough."
Bratt scored a power-play goal on a wrist shot from the high slot to make it 2-1 at 1:16 of the third period.
The line of Tatar, Hughes and Bratt combined for seven points (three goals, four assists) and nine shots. Hughes missed 17 games from Oct. 21-Nov. 28 because of a dislocated shoulder.
"He's got good chemistry with Bratt and Tatar and he's making a difference," Devils coach Lindy Ruff said of Hughes. "He's making a lot of things happen offensively for us, skating really well and his bounce back from injury early in the season is something that is evident now."
Tatar took a pass in the slot and scored on a backhand to give the Devils a 1-0 lead 51 seconds into the first.
Domi tied it 1-1 at the left post on a rebound off Blackwood's right pad at 4:54.
"There's a ton of try, [but] at some point, you have to play with some poise," Larsen said. "Teams are going to push back. We need our guys to understand and make the next play. This is 'Hockey 101,' and we have to get better. We are going to chip at one situation at a time here."

Columbus outshot New Jersey 18-5 in the first period. Blackwood made consecutive saves at the left post against Oliver Bjorkstrand and Boone Jenner in the last seven seconds during a Blue Jackets power play.
"I thought we got a great effort out of Mackenzie," Ruff said. "In the first period, we weren't running on all cylinders and he made some big saves for us, allowed us to win that hockey game. [Blackwood] gave us the opportunity to get our feet underneath us and I thought after that, the next 40 minutes, we played really well."
Hughes scored an empty-net goal at 18:40 of the third period for the 3-1 final.
"Jack makes a different when he's on the ice," Bratt said. "I think everyone really sees now how big a part of our organization he is. He creates scoring chances every time he's on the ice."
Blue Jackets forward Jakub Voracek played his 1,000th NHL game. He had one shot in 20:26 of ice time.
"It's tough. You want to win a game for a guy like that," Domi said.
NOTES: Columbus went 0-for-4 on the power play. … The Blue Jackets had their 11-game point streak against the Devils end (10-0-1), dating to Dec. 8, 2017. ... Blue Jackets defenseman Jake Christiansen made his NHL debut. He had one shot and two blocked shots in 12:46. ... Brothers Jesper Boqvist (Devils) and Adam Boqvist (Blue Jackets) played against each other for the second time in the NHL (Dec. 23, 2019). ... Bratt leads New Jersey with 32 points and has eight (two goals, six assists) in his past five games. ... The Devils have not allowed a power-play goal in their past seven games (13-for-13).