NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Stefan Noesen, Paul Cotter and Cody Glass each scored to help the New Jersey Devils beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 on Saturday and snap a five-game home losing streak.
New Jersey started the season 9-0-1 on its home ice before losing five straight at the Prudential Center.
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New Jersey Devils left wing Paul Cotter (47) reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson Lacombe (2) battles for the puck with New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New Jersey Devils defenseman Colton White (45) collides with Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Poehling chasing down a puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New Jersey Devils left wing Paul Cotter (47) reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
The Devils' third line of Cotter, Juho Lammikko and Noesen combined for five points (two goals, three assists). It was Noesen's first goal in 22 games.
Troy Terry scored for Anaheim.
Cotter scored in his third straight game, giving New Jersey a 2-1 lead at 5:52 of the second period, from Lammikko and Noesen.
Glass increased the Devils lead to 3-1 late in the second period from Ondrej Palat and Colton White. Connor Brown scored on an empty net late in the game for his seventh goal this season.
Terry scored his 10th goal of the season and third in as many games on a breakaway in the first period from Leo Carlsson for a 1-0 lead.
Jake Allen stopped 30 shots for New Jersey for his first win since Nov. 28. Allen had lost three straight.
Lukas Dostal had 18 saves for the Ducks, who failed to convert on four power-play opportunities.
The Devils were without Timo Meier, their top goal-scorer, who missed his second straight game due to a family health matter. New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe said prior to the game, “we will give him (Meier) all the time he needs.”
Anaheim was playing in its third game in five nights as part of a five-game road trip.
Ducks: Visit the New York Rangers on Monday night.
Devils: Host Vancouver on Sunday.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
New Jersey Devils left wing Paul Cotter (47) reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson Lacombe (2) battles for the puck with New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New Jersey Devils defenseman Colton White (45) collides with Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Poehling chasing down a puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New Jersey Devils left wing Paul Cotter (47) reacts after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Four astronauts strapped into NASA's new moon rocket and awaited liftoff Wednesday on humanity’s first lunar trip in more than half a century.
The three Americans and one Canadian waved and shaped their hands into hearts as they emerged from crew quarters to cheers and said goodbye to their families. The crowd applauded and cheered again as the astronauts boarded their astrovan for the nine mile (14-kilometer) ride to the launch pad.
Commander Reid Wiseman thanked the throngs who gathered to see them off.
“It's a great day for us. It's a great day for this team,” Wiseman called out.
Tensions were high earlier in the day as hydrogen fuel started flowing into the rocket. Dangerous hydrogen leaks erupted during a countdown test earlier this year, forcing a lengthy flight delay.
To NASA's relief, no significant hydrogen leaks occurred. The launch team loaded more than 700,000 gallons of fuel (2.6 million liters) into the 32-story Space Launch System rocket on the pad, a smooth operation that set the stage for the Artemis II crew to board.
A problem cropped up with the rocket's flight-termination system with only two hours remaining in the countdown. Commands weren't getting through to the system, which is needed to send a self-destruct signal in case the rocket veers off course and threatens populated areas. But the issue was quickly resolved, according to NASA.
“It is time to fly,” Wiseman declared on the eve of launch via X. Favorable weather was forecast.
The four will fly around the moon without stopping or even orbiting — then head straight back for a Pacific splashdown. They will set a new distance record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth as they zoom some 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) beyond the moon and then hang a U-turn.
Astronauts last flew to the moon during Apollo 17 in 1972.
Artemis II is the opening shot of NASA's grand plans for a permanent moon base. The space program is aiming for a moon landing near the lunar south pole in 2028.
“The next era of exploration begins,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted on X.
Best wishes already have started to pour in, including from England's King Charles III to Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
Hansen will become the first non-U. S. citizen to launch to the moon. The crew also includes Christina Koch and Victor Glover, the first woman and first Black astronaut, respectively, destined for the moon.
“In this historic moment, you stand as a bridge between nations and generations,” the king wrote in a letter to Hansen, “and I commend you for your courage, discipline and vision that have brought you to this threshold.”
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Astronauts, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, right, and Pilot Victor Glover wave to family members as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artermis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Artemis 2 crew member Commander Reid Wiseman holds "Rise" after the crew's arrival at the Kennedy Space Center Friday, March 27, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Commander Reid Wiseman poses for a photo with family members after leaving the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artermis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Astronauts, from left, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, of Canada,, Pilot Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch pose for a photo after leaving the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artermis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
NASA's Artermis II moon rocket sits on Launch Pad 39-B at the Kennedy Space Center hours ahead of a planned launch attempt Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
This photo provided by NASA shows NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, from left, Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, right, in a group photograph as they visit NASA's Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, Monday, March 30, 2026, at Launch Complex 39B of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
NASA's Artermis II moon rocket sits on Launch Pad 39-B at the Kennedy Space Center hours ahead of planned liftoff Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
