Four-goal third propels Devils past skidding Blackhawks

Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Timo Meier scored in a span of about two minutes to cap a four-goal, third-period flurry Saturday afternoon by the host New Jersey Devils, who beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 in Newark, N.J.

Dawson Mercer began the comeback 2:45 into the third for the Devils, who won the final two games of a five-game homestand (3-1-1). Goalie Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves.

Jason Dickinson scored in the second for the Blackhawks, who endured some familiar struggles while losing for the seventh time in eight games. Chicago, which gave up three third-period goals in a 2:19 span in Thursday's 5-4 loss at the New York Islanders, has lost 12 games this season in which it scored first.

Chicago goalie Drew Commesso, making his second NHL appearance and first start, recorded 20 saves.

Dickinson's fluky goal accounted for the only scoring in the first two periods. The center's shot glanced off Markstrom and hit the far post before bouncing off Luke Hughes' face and skittering into the net with 6:29 left in the second.

Mercer, playing with a face guard after he was hit in the face by a puck Thursday night, tied the score when he took a backhanded pass from Luke Hughes and buried a shot beyond Commesso's stick.

Jack Hughes scored the game-winner with 9:32 left following an impressive effort on defense by Jesper Bratt, who checked Wyatt Kaiser and eventually corralled the puck before passing to Brett Pesce, who fed Jack Hughes for a sizzling slapshot that beat Commesso stick side.

Hischier picked off a pass by Kevin Korchinski to begin a three-on-two that ended with 7:44 remaining, when Hischier managed to poke the puck through Commesso's legs despite being pushed from behind by TJ Brodie.

Meier scored the final goal just 18 seconds later, when he put home the rebound of a Mercer shot.

--Field Level Media