Jack Hughes thought he had it pretty good as a professional hockey player. The No. 1 draft pick in 2019, Hughes was living his best life over the ensuing four seasons, skating for the Devils and emerging as a superstar in the N.H.L.
Then he got to the postseason.
“I used to think the regular season in the N.H.L. was a blast,” he beamed. “It doesn’t even come close to the playoffs.”
Hughes and his Devils teammates were soaring Monday night in Newark following their 4-0 win over the Rangers in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series.