Credit: CBS News
Devils Channel the Force, Outlast Blackhawks 5-3 on Star Wars Night
Published: Sunday, March 29, 2026
by Ryan Nelke
NEWARK, N.J. - The New Jersey Devils (38-33-2) came back to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks (27-34-13) 5-3 on Sunday night, as three late goals cemented their 38th victory of the season.
On Star Wars Night at the Rock, the Blackhawks would play the role of the Sith as they struck first. Devils netminder Jake Allen made it real easy for Chicago’s Ilya Mikheyev, as he gave it right up behind his net, allowing Anton Frondell to slide it to Mikheyev in front and tuck it right into the empty net. Louis Crevier would be credited with the secondary. assist on the opening goal.
The Devils would get the first opportunity on the power play when New Jersey’s Paul Cotter was tripped into the boards by Wyatt Kaiser. New Jersey did not waste any time, as they set their power play up right away, and Luke Hughes’ shot from the blue line was deflected in by Connor Brown, tying the game at one. Jake Hughes would pick up the secondary assist.
Chicago continued to play the villain as they answered with their second goal of the period, coming in a similar fashion to their first. A pass from behind the net by Ryan Donato found Frank Nazar wide open on the right side of the net, squeaking it past Allen to give the Blackhawks the 2-1 lead. Andre Burakovsky would secure the secondary assist.
New Jersey would get back onto the power play a minute and a half into the second on a Kevin Korchinski interference minor, but failed to capitalize this time due to sloppy passing.
In the waning minutes of the middle frame, the Devils would take a page out of the Blackhawks book when Dawson Mercer won a puck battle behind the net, sending the puck out in front which found Simon Nemec’s stick for a one-timer, blasting it past Chicago’s Spencer Knight to tie the game at two.
With 2.2 seconds remaining in the period, Lenni Hameenaho would get charged with a hooking minor on Connor Bedard. The horn would ring shortly thereafter, sending the game into the third deadlocked at two.
The Blackhawks would get back to the man advantage nine minutes into the third when Nick Bjustad would be called for a high sticking minor. 63 seconds later, Chicago would upgrade to a 5-on-3 powerplay when Cody Glass would get sent off for a tripping penalty.
Nazar would come through with his second of the game for Chicago on the two man advantage, rocketing a one-timer off the pass from Bedard beating the out-of-position Allen to regain the lead at 3-2. Frondell would grab another point of the secondary helper.
However, the Devils were resilient and got their third equalizer of the game from Dougie Hamilton, ripping a shot into the top left corner of the net over Knight’s stick side. Seconds later, Jack Hughes would break free all alone and beat Knight on his glove side this time, putting the Devils on top, 4-3. Within 19 seconds, the Devils were all the sudden in the lead with five minutes to go.
Jack Hughes and Timo Meier were credited with the two assists on the Hamilton goal, while Jesper Bratt and Jonas Siegenthaler would take home the assists on the Hughes goal.
With 30.5 seconds to go, Jack Hughes' empty netter and second goal of the game would bump the Devils lead to 5-3, securing the comeback win for New Jersey on Sunday night.
Following the win, New Jersey will head back to New York on Tuesday night, where they will take on the Rangers for the final time this year as they look for season sweep, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.
Ryan Nelke is an Assistant Sports Director and can be reached at nelkerya@shu.edu.Posted in: sports,