Hughes' Golden Touch Fuels Devils

0:00It's April 2nd. This is NHL News Today, AI-powered stories from inside your team. Jack Hughes is straight dominating for the New Jersey Devils since bringing home Olympic gold for Team USA. The 24-year-old center scored the winner in the gold medal game, and now he's got 10 goals and 27 points in just 17 games. Back in the NHL, that's pacing for 48 goals and 130 points over a full 82 game season, letting him top 5 in league scoring since the break. But the Devils are still 10 points out of the Eastern Conference wildcard with a 10 wins 7 loss record in that stretch. They're fighting to stay alive, but injuries have plagued them again, likely knocking them out of the playoffs for the fifth time in Hughes' career. Hughes' play has fired up fans and teammates, owning shifts with 67 shots and averaging 21 minutes 30 seconds of ice time. His stats show the Devils controlling over 53% of expected goals when he's out there at 5 on 5, but they've been outscored.

1:01Due to shaky gold tending, lately he's made franchise history as the fourth devil with four straight, 40 assists seasons, highlighted in their recent 5-3 win over. Chicago Still, his injury history means he's only top 65 games once in seven years, cutting into his full potential. Hughes' speed, vision and shot make him the heart of this team, but staying healthy and consistent could turn the Devils around for real next time.