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NEWARK, New Jersey – Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils returned to NHL action Wednesday night against the Buffalo Sabres, the first game since the start of the Olympic break.
It’s safe to say a lot has happened since Hughes last pulled his New Jersey sweater over his head and skated onto the Prudential Center ice.
Hughes scored the gold medal goal in overtime to defeat Canada during the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 24-year-old is arguably the biggest star in American hockey now due to his heroics in Milan, and the fans in Newark let him know it.
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Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils skates during warmups before a game at the Prudential Center on February 25, 2026, in Newark, New Jersey (Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images)
Before puck drop against Buffalo, the Devils honored all of their 2026 Olympians, including those who represented foreign nations. Unsurprisingly, no one received a warmer reception from the crowd than Hughes.
The pregame ceremony brought fans back to Sunday morning. As the gold medal goal was replayed on the Jumbotron, fans applauded as if it were happening in real time. Chants of “USA” after chants of “USA.” echoed throughout the arena, which was filled with American flags.
Hughes first grabbed his USA teammate Tage Thompson from the visiting Buffalo Sabers bench and let the fans recognize him before taking the microphone. He nearly burst into tears as he addressed the crowd.
Gold medal celebration days
Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils skates during warmups before an NHL regular season game at the Prudential Center on February 25, 2026, in Newark, New Jersey. (Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images)
It’s been a whirlwind for Team USA since taking the gold medal Sunday in Italy. The team traveled back to the United States and celebrated in Miami on Monday before most of the team headed to Washington, D.C., for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.
Despite criticism from left-wing media about the team’s meeting with the president of the United States after giving the country its first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980, Hughes has remained steadfast in his patriotism.
“It’s all very political. We’re athletes. We’re very proud to represent America, and when you have the opportunity to go to the White House and meet with the president, we’re proud to be Americans and that’s very patriotic,” Hughes said.
Players like Hughes, whose NHL teams returned to action Wednesday, had a tough turnaround getting back on the ice. While it may take a few turns for kids to get their legs back, it’s hard to imagine any American hockey fans complaining.
Jack Hughes of the USA celebrates with the American flag after scoring a second goal in overtime to win gold on February 22, 2026. (Reuters/Alessandro Garofalo)
New Jersey fans are certainly happy to have their American hero back on the ice.
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