"Comets win the faceoff. To the point, Osipov firing, it's saved. Rebound. Score!" A mere 40 seconds into Wednesday night's game, Utica Comets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/game-day/devils-goaltender-leaves-game-with-apparent-injury] forward Jack Malone threw his stick in the air to celebrate his fourth goal of the 2024-25 season. Nolan Foote, Brian Halonen, Dmitry Osipov, and Daniil Misyul celebrated with Malone before skating to their bench after securing an early 1-0 lead over the Bridgeport Islanders. It was the first of three goals for Malone who earned his first career AHL hat trick in seven minutes at Adirondack Bank Center. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc25jfwIzVU[/embed] The 24-year-old led the Comets to a 7-1 victory over the Islanders. The Comets are now in 14th place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 13-19-2-2. Malone spent last season at Boston College, where he collected 25 points, including 12 goals in 41 games. He was selected 180th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/]. On April 17, 2024, he signed an an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, in addition to signing a two-year AHL standard player contract beginning in the 2024-25 campaign. Malone calls New Jersey home and attended Delbarton School for two years. He additionally played for the North Jersey Avalanche 16U AAA, where current New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/there-is-no-panic-in-here-devils-frustrated-amid-slump-but-not-panicking-as-they-look-to-get-back-on-track] defenseman Brett Pesce [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/players/new-jersey-devils-brett-pesce-carolina-hurricanes-free-agency-tom-fitzgerald] played years earlier. The Comets' next game will be Friday, Jan. 24, when the club hosts the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Big Show: Nico Hischier Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/] for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. The Mental Side of the Game: Devils Players & Mental Skills Coach Andy Swärd Take You Behind the Scenes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/players/new-jersey-devils-jesper-bratt-alexander-holtz-nico-hischier-andy-sward] EXCLUSIVE: Q&A With MSG Networks Host & Analyst Rachel Herzog [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/exclusive-q-a-with-msg-networks-host-analyst-rachel-herzog-new-jersey-devils] Hischier’s Manager Patrick Fischer: 'He’s Driven to Succeed, but Not Easily Satisfied [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/features/hischiers-manager-patrick-fischer-hes-driven-to-succeed-but-not-easily-satisfied]' [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/features/hischiers-manager-patrick-fischer-hes-driven-to-succeed-but-not-easily-satisfied]
