At this point, it seems almost certain that when the New Jersey Devils enter overtime, they're bound to earn the extra point. Some of that is systemic. Some of that comes from having a strong faceoff option to win possession off the opening draw. Some of that is because the roster as a whole is built on speed and puck possession.
And, truthfully, a lot of it has to do with the fact that they happen to have the best 3-on-3 player in the world: Jack Hughes.
The Devils' franchise cornerstone is unequivocally one of the best players in the league, period, but he has always excelled in particular while operating in open space. With the extra space that 3-on-3 necessitates, it's no wonder that he is so deadly -- he already has three overtime game-winning goals in 2026-27, through five overtimes and 18 games. It's not a new development, either; this is something he has been doing for a number of years.
According to PostHockey, no player in the National Hockey League who has logged at least 60 minutes of ice time at 3-on-3 has more shot attempts per hour (iCF/60), shots on goal per hour (iSF/60), or individual expected goals per hour (ixG/60) in the last five years than No. 86 does. He is one goal shy of the league lead in overtime winners in the last five seasons (9) and has only provided New Jersey with primary points (goals and primary assists) in overtime in that span -- not a single one of his extra-period points has been secondary.
Jack Hughes leads many overtime statistics
No player has been on the ice for more expected goals (xG) in that span either, and that includes players like his brother, Quinn, who has nearly 50 more minutes of 3-on-3 ice time over the last five campaigns. Only one player (Devon Toews) has a better expected goal share (xGF%) than Jack's 66.2%.
Devils fans have known this for quite some time -- the heart palpitations that typically come when watching overtime hockey don't hit quite the same when Jack Hughes is on the ice, simply because fans can sit back and relax as he single-handedly dismantles the opposition. The world figured it out when he dominated the best players in the world in this strength state at the Olympics, and they're continuing to find out game after game after game.
Connor McDavid might be the best player in the world in the aggregate, but truly no player matches up to Jack Hughes when the game gets to 3-on-3.
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