Jack Hughes scores first NHL goal in game against brother
There it is, folks. Jack Hughes officially has an NHL goal to his name – and one that he can chirp his brother Quinn about for the rest of his life.
Facing Quinn’s Vancouver Canucks on Saturday afternoon, the younger of the Hughes brothers corralled a beautiful cross-ice pass from Taylor Hall during a first-period power play and rifled the puck past Thatcher Demko.
First of many for Jack Hughes. pic.twitter.com/pPSl3LzYBP
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 19, 2019
The 18-year-old’s celebration was nearly more electric than his goal, and rightfully so after failing to find the back of the net in his first seven games.
LET'S GO BABY!! pic.twitter.com/OHQzkh8Aor
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 19, 2019
While it may not hold the same bragging rights as a first goal, Quinn made his presence felt with some fancy fakes and footwork that resulted in his brother face-planting in the third period.
Quinn Hughes dusts brother Jack on the breakout pic.twitter.com/mXmTX3huSw
— Harman Dayal (@harmandayal2) October 19, 2019
Cringe-worthy fall aside, the 2019 top draft pick etched his name into the history books of both the New Jersey Devils and the NHL with a flock of friends and family members in attendance. He became the second-youngest player in franchise history to score his first NHL goal (Craig Wolanin holds the record) and the ninth player in league history to pot his first puck in a game against his brother (a feat last accomplished by Marcus Foligno in 2012).
As someone who sits second in career points at the IIHF Men’s World Under-18 Championship and set a new USNTDP points record last season, there’s no reason to believe that many more celebrations and potential records — and perhaps a few additional tumbles courtesy of his brother — aren’t in the kid’s future.
Though it certainly took longer than he would have liked, the first goal was surely well worth the wait, standing as the game-winner in a 1-0 Devils victory and earning Jack first star honours. You couldn’t write up a better script.
More NHL coverage on Yahoo Sports