Dawson Mercer nets hat trick as Devils stomp Penguins

Dawson Mercer recorded his first career hat trick Tuesday night as the New Jersey Devils damaged the Pittsburgh Penguins' wild-card hopes by cruising to a 5-1 win in Newark, N.J.

At 21 years and 159 days old, Mercer is the youngest Devils player to record a hat trick since Scott Gomez (20 years, three days) did so on Dec. 26, 1999.

Dougie Hamilton and Timo Meier also scored for the Devils (49-21-8, 106 points), who ente