No shortage of Hughes Bros. in Wild-Devils matchup
Most family reunions take place in backyards, at banquet halls or by picnic tables at the park.
Then again, the Hughes family is not like most others.
Jack, Luke and Quinn Hughes will host an on-ice reunion when the Minnesota Wild play the New Jersey Devils on Monday night in Saint Paul, Minn. Jack and Luke Hughes play for the Devils, and Quinn Hughes joined the Wild during a midseason blockbuster trade.
The brothers' bond is no secret across the league, but Monday's game offers a chance for the latest round of bragging rights.
The Wild have earned at least one point in eight of their past nine games (4-1-3). They are coming off a 4-3 home overtime loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Quinn Hughes, a defenseman, assisted on all three of Minnesota's goals. He has 16 points (1 G, 15 A) in his first 14 games with the Wild, and he is feeling more comfortable than ever alongside teammate Brock Faber on the team's No. 1 defensive pairing.
As both players develop chemistry on the ice, Hughes said, they are getting better at understanding when and where the other likes to have the puck.
"I think that's what it will continue to look like as we go forward," Hughes said. "He's a pretty special player, honestly. He makes it easy."
The Devils have not had it easy in recent days, losing four games in a row, including a 4-3 setback in Winnipeg against the Jets on Sunday afternoon.
Cody Glass had two goals for New Jersey and Nico Hischier scored once in the loss. During the Devils' four-game skid, they have been outscored 20-5.
Devils coach Sheldon Keefe offered a familiar refrain after his team's latest loss.
"Too many (defensive lapses)," Keefe said. "Whether it's soft around our net or losing structure at key times, just not good enough. We did enough good things to put ourselves in a position to win, but too many mistakes that hurt you defensively, it's hard to win like that."
Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom will likely get the turn in net to try to stop the recent barrage of goals. Markstrom is 10-10-1 with a 3.48 goals-against average and an .878 save percentage this season. He is 9-3-2 with a 2.19 GAA and a .925 save percentage in 15 career games against the Wild.
The Devils' other goaltender is Jake Allen, who likely will get a rest after playing Sunday and allowing four goals on 22 shots.
Minnesota could counter with Filip Gustavsson or Jesper Wallstedt in net. Gustavsson is 14-9-5 with a 2.53 GAA and a .911 save percentage this season. Wallstedt is 12-2-4 with a 2.28 GAA and a .926 save percentage.
Against the Devils, Gustavsson is 2-3-1 with a 2.90 GAA and a .914 save percentage in six career games. Wallstedt has not faced the Devils in his career.
Wild forward Ben Jones could remain in the lineup after notching his first career goal on Saturday. He credited Faber and Hughes with setting him up for the goal, which came in his 49th career game.
"Obviously, super excited to get the first one," Jones said.