The New Jersey Devils are struggling to put up goals, and as we write this, the Devils put up another zero in the first period against the Boston Bruins, but that's not a problem for their AHL team, the Utica Comets. Going into Wednesday night's contest, the Comets have scored 18 goals in their previous five contests. Against the Bridgeport Islanders, the offense exploded.
In just the first period, the Comets scored five goals to blitz the A-Isles before they could get settled. The Islanders are struggling, just like the Comets are this season, but Utica is playing much better as of late. In this battle of last-place teams, it looks like the Comets will come out on top.
However, it's not just the score that's impressive, but one of the Devils prospects did something that's incredibly rare. He scored a hat trick in one period. It may be rare, but the time he needed to do it was even more impressive.
Jack Malone came into Wednesday night’s game with three goals on the season. He doubled that total in seven minutes of ice time against the Islanders.
CORRECTION: JACK MALONE HAS A HAT TRICK IN 7 MINUTES AND THIRTY THREE SECONDS 🎩🎩🎩
— Utica Comets (@UticaComets) January 23, 2025
🚨MALONE
🍎Halonen, Hardman
3-0 JACK | 7:33 INTO THE FIRST pic.twitter.com/4UHynASfG2
This is definitely a night Malone will never forget. He hasn't been much of a scorer in his career. Prior to signing with the Devils, Malone had a decent season with Boston College. He had 12 goals and 13 assists in 2023-24 (his only year with the program). He wasn't even a scorer when he played in the USHL. So, Wednesday night's outcome was a huge surprise.
The other goal scorers were Nolan Foote and Mike Hardman, with Foote and Max Willman putting up multi-point periods. It was a big start for the Comets, who can use as many points as they can get.