Jack Hughes helps the Devils rally for a 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jack Hughes scored his 13th goal during a big third period for New Jersey, helping the Devils beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Saturday.

Dawson Mercer and Timo Meier each had a goal and an assist as the Devils improved to 7-3-1 in their last 11 games. Nico Hischier also scored and Jacob Markstrom made 17 saves while improving to 15-6-2 this season.

New Jersey trailed 1-0 after two periods, but it put together a strong finish against Drew Commesso in his first NHL start. Commesso finished with 20 saves.

Jason Dickinson scored for Chicago on a second-period shot that hit off the crossbar and rebounded off the face of Devils defenseman Luke Hughes and into the net.

Mercer tied the game early in the third on a pass from Luke Hughes, and New Jersey went ahead to stay by scoring three times in 126 seconds.

Hughes made it 2-1 at 10:28, cashing in after New Jersey had a long stretch in the offensive zone. Hischier scored his 16th goal at 12:16, and Meier got his 10th at 12:34.

Chicago also allowed three goals in rapid succession in the third period during Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders.

Jesper Bratt and Brett Pesce each had two assists for the Devils.

Blackhawks: Chicago has been playing close games and failing to close them out. Commesso was outstanding in the first two periods.

Devils: The Devils have been playing outstanding defense, and they held their opponents under 20 shots in the last three games of a five-game homestand (3-1-1).

Blackhawks star Connor Bedard hit the crossbar early in the third period on a power play.

Each team went 0 for 3 on the power play.

The Blackhawks host the Islanders on Sunday, and the Devils are at St. Louis on Tuesday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) plays the puck as New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic (8) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Chicago Blackhawks center Ryan Donato (8) shoots the puck as New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (7) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Chicago Blackhawks center Philipp Kurashev (23) plays the puck past New Jersey Devils defenseman Brett Pesce (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) shoots the puck as New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic (8) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) and Chicago Blackhawks left wing Taylor Hall (71) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Drew Commesso (33) defends against New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Bratt (63) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Chicago Blackhawks center Jason Dickinson (16) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the New Jersey Devils during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump was huddling with allies and a Republican cause célèbre at Saturday's Army-Navy football game, taking in one of the most storied rivalries in college sports while spotlighting his emerging national security team.

Trump was joined by Vice President-elect JD Vance, embattled Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, potential backup defense secretary option Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and others for the 125th matchup between service academies.

Also attending was Daniel Penny, a military veteran who was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide this week in the chokehold death of an agitated subway rider in New York. Penny was invited by Vance, who accused prosecutors of trying to “ruin" Penny's life by charging the Marine veteran in the death of Jordan Neely in 2023.

Trump arrived at Northwest Stadium just before kickoff and was greeted warmly by the crowd, which erupted in cheers when the president-elect, Vance and Elon Musk, who Trump has appointed to help lead a proposed Department of Government Efficiency, appeared on the scoreboard video screen. Trump and his entourage took in the game from a suite at Northwest Stadium.

The president mouthed “thank you” and the crowd erupted in a chant of “USA, USA!”

Trump, who attended Army-Navy games as president-elect in 2016 and during his first terms, has been making an increasing number of public appearances before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025. He was accompanied by his family and Vance on Thursday as he rang the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange after being recognized as Time magazine's person of the year.

Trump spent the weeks after the Nov. 5 election holed up at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida assembling a team to help lead his next administration.

He and his aides have become bullish about Hegseth's chances of winning Senate confirmation. The Army combat veteran and former Fox News host's chances of becoming defense secretary had appeared in peril amid allegations of excessive drinking, sexual assault and his views on women in combat.

DeSantis, a former Navy lawyer who competed against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, is among the possible replacement candidates Trump has considered if Hegseth's bid fizzles.

The mood appeared celebratory for Trump and his team on Saturday.

Hegseth along with fellow Army veterans Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump's incoming national security adviser, and Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to serve as director of intelligence, posted a short video on X shortly before the game to make their allegiances clear.

“We love our Navy, except today” said Waltz, a retired Army National Guard colonel who did multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa.

“Go Army!" Gabbard added.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was among the lawmakers chatting up Trump at the game. He brought with him a contingent of other GOP lawmakers, incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Pennsylvania Sen.-elect David McCormick, that vied for face time with the incoming president weeks before Republicans take control of the three branches of the federal government.

Johnson, who could be seen talking with the president-elect before kickoff, had said he would discuss with Trump plans for a legislative package that could move through Congress next year with a simple majority in the face of expected Democratic opposition.

Vance brou ght Penny, a fellow Marine veteran, as his guest. Penny was cleared of criminally negligent homicide in Neely's death after a judge had dismissed a more serious manslaughter charge last week because the jury deadlocked on that count.

The case was a flashpoint in the long-standing debates over racial justice and as well as failures by New York City to address homelessness and mental illness, both of which Neely had struggled with.

“Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” Vance said in a post on X on Friday. “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.”

Army (11-1) is ranked 19th in The Associated Press Top 25 after beating Tulane on Dec. 6 to win the American Athletic Conference — the first league title of any kind in the team’s 134-year history. Navy (8-3) was ranked earlier this season after starting with six straight victories

Madhani reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.

Vice President-elect JD Vance, from left, and Senator-elect Dave McCormick, R-Pa., speak as Usha Vance looks on at the NCAA college football game between Army and Navy at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Vice President-elect JD Vance, from left, and his wife Usha Vance attend the NCAA college football game between Army and Navy at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Vice President-elect JD Vance, from left, and Senator-elect Dave McCormick, R-Pa., gesture to the crowd as Usha Vance looks on at the NCAA college football game between Army and Navy at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Vice President-elect JD Vance waves joined by Senator-elect Dave McCormick, R-Pa., right, at the NCAA college football game between Army and Navy at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, and Senator-elect Dave McCormick, R-Pa., speak at the NCAA college football game between Army and Navy at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

President-elect Donald Trump, left, joined by Senator-elect Dave McCormick, R-Pa., gestures to the crowd as he attends the NCAA college football game between Army and Navy at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

President-elect Donald Trump gestures to the crowd as he attends the NCAA college football game between Army and Navy at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

President-elect Donald Trump, left, joined by Senator-elect Dave McCormick, R-Pa., right, gestures to the crowd as he attends the NCAA college football game between Army and Navy at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks and answers questions at a news conference, Sept. 16, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to be defense secretary, is joined by his wife Jennifer Rauchet as he speaks with reporters after meeting with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

FILE - Daniel Penny arrives at courtroom after lunch break in New York, Dec. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)