Hughes calls injury joke weird, then scores Devils’ OT winner

New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes scored 3:23 into overtime to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Thursday, October 1, after an awkward first-intermission interview in which he called a reporter’s joke about his past finger injury weird and skated away. During the televised interview, ESPN reporter A.J. Mleczko told Hughes it was good to see him healthy and joked about wrapping him in bubble wrap and having him use plastic cutlery. The remark referred to an injury that required surgery and caused Hughes to miss games last season. Hughes replied, “I mean, I think that’s a weird joke midgame,” before leaving the interview. Mleczko then returned to the broadcast and said Hughes had no sense of humor during a big game, while thanking him for his time. The exchange circulated widely online. The accounts establish what was said and Hughes’s response, but do not explain why he objected to the joke. The interview took place during the first intermission, with New Jersey trailing Philadelphia 1-0. The Devils tied the game before Hughes scored the overtime winner, finishing a pass from teammate Jesper Bratt. The final score was 3-2.