Jack Hughes scores on a breakaway in OT, lifts Devils to a 5-4 win over Red Wings

DETROIT (AP) — Jack Hughes scored on a breakaway off a slick pass from Jesper Bratt early in overtime, lifting the New Jersey Devils to a 5-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.

New Jersey's Evan Rodrigues, Nico Hischier and Bratt scored tiebreaking goals and Anthony Mantha had a tying goal. Jake Allen stopped 22 shots for the Devils.

Alex DeBrincat had a pair of tying goals after Emmitt Finne and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard scored to give the Red Wings a 2-1 lead.

Detroit's John Gibson made 32 saves, including a kick save that denied Arseny Gritsyuk on an odd-man rush late in regulation to send the game to overtime.

The Red Wings got off to a rough start, getting outshot 16-0 midway through the first period. New Jersey, though, didn't take full advantage as Rodrigues scored its only goal in the opening period.

Finne scored on Detroit's third shot with 1:25 left in the first period and Brandsegg-Nygard scored on the team's next shot early in the second period.

The Devils, hoping to get back to the playoffs after finishing seventh in the division last year, acquired Rodrigues in a trade and signed Mantha — a former Red Wing — in free agency to boost their third line.

Detroit, meanwhile, had a shaky offseason.

Dylan Larkin asked to be traded and the former captain is still on the team. Simon Edvinsson, a standout defenseman, remains unsigned as a restricted free agent.

Devils forward Luke Evangelista was out with an illness after feeling worse throughout the game Monday night against Ottawa and was replaced by Stefan Noesen. New Jersey defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic made his season debut after missing all of training camp recovering from knee surgery this past spring.

Devils: Host the New York Rangers on Thursday night.

Red Wings: Host Philadelphia on Thursday night.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

New Jersey Devils center Evan Rodrigues, second from left, celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson stops a New Jersey Devils shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (53) knocks the puck off the stick of New Jersey Devils right wing Anthony Mantha (39) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

New Jersey Devils right wing Anthony Mantha (39) and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (53) chase the puck as John Gibson (36) watches in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Red Wings goaltender John Gibson (36) stops a New Jersey Devils center Dawson Mercer (91) shot as Albert Johansson (20) defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — José Ramírez's mental mistake and fielding error cost Cleveland in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, a day after his bat helped boost the Guardians to an opening win.

He left third base uncovered on Chandler Simpson's fourth-inning infield chopper, then misplayed Ben Williamson's grounder for an error that led to three unearned runs as the Tampa Bay Rays evened the best-of-seven series with a 3-1 win Tuesday night.

“It’s a little bit faster here with the surface and I was playing parallel to the base,” Ramírez said through a translator. “The ball bounced right on the edge between the dirt and the turf, and that’s what made it a little more difficult for me. I tried to knock it down.”

“It’s frustrating. I feel bad because I wasn’t able to make that play and after that the runs came in. I feel bad about that,” he added.

A seven-time All-Star who has finished among the top five in MVP voting six times, Ramírez had three hits and scored twice in Cleveland's 7-3 win in the opene r.

Game 2 was 0-0 with Victor Mesa Jr. on first and two outs in the fourth when Chandler Simpson beat out a high chopper to shortstop Brayan Rocchio.

Ramírez, shifted toward second base on the left-handed hitter, took a few steps toward Simpson and watched the shortstop throw to first. Seeing third base uncovered, Mesa rounded second and sped to third standing up as Ramírez tried in vain to catch up.

Four pitches later, Williamson hit a two-hopper that struck the edge of where the artificial turf meets the dirt near third. The ball skipped between Ramírez’s legs into left, allowing Mesa to score.

“José kind of got stuck. It looked like he just didn’t move his feet,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “Just kind of looked like he sat back a little bit with his feet set instead of moving his feet. So tough break right there and obviously they capitalized.”

Liam Hicks pulled Parker Messier's next pitch, a slider, into right-center for a two-run single and a 3-0 lead.

“They’ve done that all year. When they smell blood, they take it and run,” Vogt said. “We had some sloppy plays in the field that we need to clean up.”

Ramírez homered in Games 4 and 5 of the Division Series as Cleveland overcome an 0-2 series deficit, the first Cleveland player to homer in consecutive postseason games since Francisco Lindor in 2018.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez watches during the second inning in Game 2 of an American League Championship Series baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez watches warms up during batting practice before Game 2 of an American League Championship Series baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)