Powering the Devils victory was second-year defender Luke Hughes. The 21-year-old puck mover is the future of the team's blue line, but he's moving that timeline up with each passing game. In the wake of Dougie Hamilton's regular season ending injury,

Injuries to Devils defensemen Jonas Siegenthaler (lower body) and Dougie Hamilton (lower body), each out for the remainder of the regular season, have put Luke in a top-pair role alongside his season-long partner, Brett Pesce.

Dawson Mercer scored the game-winning goal on the power play midway through the second period and Luke Hughes earned three assists to lift the visiting New Jersey Devils to a 5-3 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.