Jack Hughes comes through in overtime yet again to save Devils

The Devils needed an extra period to break their early-season narrative of losing games despite dominating the expected goals metric, but they got it done, thanks to their star.

Jack Hughes scored his second overtime goal of the young season to give New Jersey a wild 5-4 win to kick of the NHL's annual Frozen Frenzy night. The opening game lived up to the event's name, as a back-and-forth affair ended with Hughes scoring on a breakaway off a stretch pass from Jesper Bratt.

The Devils, since the opening night of the season against Philadelphia, have often owned puck possession, scoring chances, shot attempts, and nearly every other offensive statistic except for the one that counts: goals. The result was a 2-3 start to the year, but Hughes' heroics helped at least quiet some of the pressing questions that would have continued had New Jersey lost to a middling Detroit team stuck in limbo in the wake of Dylan Larkin's trade request.

The Devils finally scored the first goal, bucking another frustrating trend to begin a crucial season for third-year head coach Sheldon Keefe and company. Evan Rodrigues found the back of the net in the first period for his first goal as a Devil, which also marked the first time this season that New Jersey scored first. Rodrigues' goal was the highlight of a dominant first period that saw the Devils pile up 17 shot attempts before the Red Wings managed their first.

Detroit tied it late in the first, preceding a frantic second period that included five goals, including one from Anthony Mantha, also his first as a Devil.

Nico Hischier added a power play goal, as all three of his goals this season have come on the man advantage. The captain's goal continued an upward trend for the power play unit, which struggled mightily to start the season but have since converted on five of its last 11 tries.

Still, the Devils were in danger of dropping another game despite seemingly tilting the ice towards the opposing net, but Hughes saved the day by furthering his label as an overtime hero, beating John Gibson blocker side on what was his 19th shot attempt of the game.