Any game between the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils is high stakes. Expectedly, Madison Square Garden was humming with excitement and anticipation of the teams’ latest showdown.
However, much to the audience’s dismay, Jack Hughes spearheaded the Devils’ 6-3 win over the archrivals, prompting Boomer Esiason to go ballistic on the Broadway Blueshirts.
Boomer Esiason Rips New York Rangers After Loss to Devils
Neither the Devils nor the Rangers have been particularly exemplary this season, but New Jersey has now secured three consecutive wins, including the latest against the Rangers. In fact, the Devils have been shockingly good so far this month, winning six out of eight games.
At Madison Square Garden against the Blueshirts on Wednesday, Hughes tallied one goal and two assists, playing an instrumental role in leading the team to a square victory. Esiason, a devoted Rangers fan, had little ground to stand on in defending the team. The former star quarterback stated that Hughes thoroughly dominates the Rangers.
Esiason even went so far as to advance an unrestrained criticism of the Blueshirts.
“Our Rangers just absolutely suck. Yeah. You know, we’re 0-6 here in rivalry games against the Islanders and the Devils. Jack Hughes just absolutely owns the Rangers. It’s embarrassing,” Esiason said.
MORE: Minnesota Wild Ditched Vincent Trocheck Chase With One Eye on Big Summer Swing
Moreover, the former quarterback also believes that the Rangers lack a star player that the New York Islanders and the Devils have with Matthew Schaefer and Hughes, respectively.
“And I was reading Mollie Walker’s article this morning talking about, you know, all the stars that are around here that are playing for the other hockey teams, Jack Hughes being one and, of course, Matthew Schaefer being the other for the Islanders. You know, like, looking at the Rangers, like, hmm, OK, who’s that star? Yeah. Where’s that star coming from? Looks bleak. It does look bleak,” Esiason said, his disappointment palpable.
Going into the Olympics, Hughes had to restore people’s faith in him. The Milano-Cortina conquest ended up redefining the 24-year-old forward.
His goal catapulted Team USA to its first Olympic gold medal since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” at Lake Placid. Ever since his return to the NHL ice after the Olympic break, the Devils forward has been more confident and an even greater player than before.
SEE ALSO: Colorado Avalanche Star Nathan MacKinnon Vehemently Against Changing NHL Overtime Rules
“I’ve been critical of Jack Hughes. But the NJ Devils star is a different man since Milan,” Devils reporter Ryan Novozinsky shared on X.
The Devils, who now have 72 points, are indeed playing some of their best hockey since the Olympic break, and, of course, Hughes, on a four-game point streak, has played a pivotal role in the team’s resurgence.
