New Jersey Devils

MUST SEE: Devils Troll Rangers Mid-Game, Jack Hughes Laughs

The New Jersey Devils troll the New York Rangers amid their 5-0 victory, which garners a good laugh out of Jack Hughes mid-game.

Published

4 weeks ago

December 23, 2024

James Nichols

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) reacts after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

NEWARK—Monday afternoon’s tilt with the New York Rangers was the gift that kept on giving for the New Jersey Devils.

It’s no secret that the Rangers are sputtering. They’ve traded their captain, then moved their former second overall pick, Kaapo Kakko, and against the Devils, they scratched their most veteran player in Chris Kreider.

MORE: Devils Rival: Rangers Trade Former 2019 Second Overall Pick

The only way it could have gone any worse for the Rangers was if the Devils embarrassed them on the eve of Christmas Eve. And boy, did they ever.

Jack Hughes started the scoring in the first period after Paul Cotter threw down with Vincent Trochek. Hughes used the jolt from Cotter’s bout and scored just about 30 seconds later.

The Devils’ superstar scored a second goal later in the second period. It was a 4-on-3 power play goal, and the primary assist went to Luke Hughes.

The Devils pounced on the Rangers who are going through woes heading into the holiday break, and they leaned into it.

After the Devils held a hefty 4-0 lead in the third period, the fans began chanting “Igorrrrr” and “Kaa-po Ka-kko!”

That prompted the arena operations to take to the jumbotron and play a viral video from the 2019 NHL Draft.

Said video is of Rangers fans at Madison Square Garden watching the Devils make the first overall selection, which was Jack Hughes. Rangers fans gave a raucous cheer at the time.

That video has since gone viral, and the Devils saved it for the right moment. After Hughes scored his second goal of the game to bring the game to 4-0, the video showed on the jumbotron, garnering a pretty raucous reaction from Devils fans.

However, it also brought a huge smile to the Devils superstar’s face, and a good chuckle.

OH MY GOD.
The #NJDevils just played the video of Rangers fans cheering when Jack Hughes got drafted.

Jack bursted out into laughter when they showed him on the jumbotron. pic.twitter.com/a3bwQogl5j

— Daniel Amoia (@daniel_amoia) December 23, 2024

When asked his thoughts on the video, Jack said with a big smile, “No thoughts. I mean, that’s so long ago. You know, I’m really lucky to be a Devil, and we’ve got great fans. I love how much they have my back. I look up in the stands and I see a million 86 jerseys. So, I think this fan base loves me, and I love playing here, and it’s special. So they got my back.”

About his smile as a reaction, he said with a chuckle, “No [smile], unless the camera caught me.”

The context?

You know by now. Jack Hughes has gone on to be a superstar talent. The Rangers, however, just traded Kakko after his stint in New York didn’t go as anticipated.

It was a feel-good moment for Devils fans in what was certainly a highlight of their season. A beat down of their rival in which their superstar—once again—took over.

The Devils and their fans go into the holiday break feeling quite good about themselves. Jack Hughes, too, in particular.

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