NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jack Hughes had two goals and three assists and Dawson Mercer scored twice as the New Jersey Devils beat the Washington Capitals 7-3 on Thursday night.
Hughes scored his first goal for the Devils 9:10 into the second period on a wrist shot, assisted by Jesper Bratt and Johnathan Kovacevic. He tacked on a wrist shot 8:10 into the third, assisted by Bratt and Connor Brown. Hughes has 24 goals and 44 assists this season.
Bratt, Dougie Hamilton and Cody Glass also scored for the Devils.
Tom Wilson, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cole Hutson scored for the Capitals.
Jake Allen made 29 saves in the win for the Devils. Logan Thompson had 23 saves for the Capitals.
Devils: Host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.
Capitals: Host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes skates agains the Dallas Stars during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
HAVANA (AP) — The Cuban government said Thursday it would release 2,010 prisoners in a move that comes while the Trump administration puts extreme pressure on the island's government with a suffocating oil blockade.
The announcement said the pardons were a “humanitarian gesture” in connection with Holy Week and didn’t mention mounting pressures with the U.S.
The government said the prisoners affected are foreigners and Cubans, including women, the elderly and young people. It didn't say when they were being released or under what conditions, nor did it mention the crimes they were accused of committing.
Authorities also provided no details on whether any of those pardoned were protesters convicted and sentenced for terrorism, contempt or public disorder.
Cuba’s government denies holding political prisoners, but the activist group Prisoners Defended registered 1,214 people imprisoned for political reasons in Cuba as of February.
Cuban authorities said the decision “was based on a careful analysis of the characteristics of the crimes committed by those sanctioned, their good behavior in prison, having served a significant portion of their sentence, and their health status,” according to a statement published in state media.
The release comes as the Trump administration has placed extreme pressure on Cuba’s government, imposing an oil blockade for months that has fueled blackouts and left many civilians suffering.
Cuba periodically frees prisoners at key moments.
In January last year, Cuba’s government released 553 prisoners as part of talks with the Vatican, a day after the Biden administration announced its intent to lift the U.S. designation of the island nation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Last month, Cuba released 51 people from the island’s prisons in an unexpected move that officials said stems from a spirit of goodwill and close relations with the Vatican.
The government said Thursday's announcement was the fifth prisoner release since 2011, and that it has freed more than 11,000 people.
The announcement come just months after the U.S. deposed ex-Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and pressured that nation's government to make radical changes, including releasing prisoners detained for political reasons and passing an amnesty law.
People walk a dog on a street in Havana, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
People wait their turn to enter a bank in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
People spend the night in the dark on the Malecon during a blackout in Havana, Cuba, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
