NEW JERSEY — We know that New Jersey pizza is hard to beat, though another Northeastern state seems to think otherwise — and that heated up social media conversation between state leaders.

On Wednesday, Connecticut Gov. Ned LaMont shared photos of new road signs along several highways, including one declaring the Constitution State to be “the pizza capital of the United States.”

That particular claim to fame, which now greets travelers on I-95 and I-84 headed out of New York, didn’t sit well with Garden State Gov. Phil Murphy.

“These updated signs reflect our state pride, showcasing some of the best of what we do in Connecticut,” LaMont said in a post on X.com. “They’re a fun way to greet visitors entering our state.”

And while some studies say Connecticut has the most pizza stores per capita — and though it’s home to the world-famous Mystic Pizza — Murphy was not impressed.

His response? “You’re not even the pizza capital of the tri-state area.”

New Jersey’s governor doubled down with a video message on Thursday — which was National Cheese Pizza Day — holding a piece of cheese pizza on a plate, and even poking fun at how some Connecticut residents eat their pizza pies with a knife and fork.

“These guys in Connecticut claim something which is…I don’t get at all,” he said. “We all know it’s in Jersey.”

And before taking a big bite to prove his point, Murphy paraphrased his now-viral moment from the Democratic National Convention. “We’re from Jersey, baby.” he said. “And they’re not.”

We’re from the pizza capital of the world, and you’re not.

Especially you, Connecticut.

Happy National Cheese Pizza Day, New Jersey! pic.twitter.com/kLj4YL8Hle
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) September 5, 2024

NEW YORK – A social media brouhaha has broken out between the Governors of New Jersey and Connecticut after the Nutmeg State unveiled new highway signs on I-95 and I-84 naming itself the “Home of the Pizza Capital of the United States.”

The sign is one of several new ones that hail the state’s achievements, including ones calling Connecticut “Home of the Basketball Capital of the World,” “Home of the Submarine Capital of the World,” and telling people to “Stop for a bite in the Foodie Capital of New England.”

“These updated signs reflect our state pride, showcasing some of the best of what we do in Connecticut. They’re a fun way to greet visitors entering our state,” Lamont said in a post on X.

The pizza signs, which will greet drivers entering Connecticut from New York drew a reaction from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who posted on X “You’re not even the pizza capital of the tri-state area.”

Murphy doubled down on Thursday, posting a video for National Cheese Pizza Day.

“Now you might have noticed that there’s some confusion about where the country’s and the world’s best pizza is,” Murphy said. “These guys in Connecticut claim something which is… I don’t get at all. We all know it’s in Jersey.”

Murphy went on to poke fun at people from Connecticut for eating their pizza with a knife and fork, rather than eating it with their hands.

In February, Lamont declared New Haven, Connecticut the Pizza Capital of the United States, drawing ire from some of his tri-state neighbors. 

So far, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has not weighed in on where she feels New York ranks in the ongoing battle over who has the nation’s best pizza.

The New Jersey Devils and President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald announced today that the team has signed goaltender Michael Hutchinson to a Professional Tryout contract (PTO). Hutchinson will join New Jersey when all players report to training camp on September 18.

Hutchinson, 34, spent the 2023-24 season with Detroit’s organization and recorded two shutouts with a 14-14-3 record for Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League (AHL). The right-handed catching goaltender has played in 241 career AHL contests since 2010-11, posting a 120-85-26 record, .914 save percentage, and 2.62 goals against average, with 17 shutouts.

Born March 2, 1990, Boston selected Hutchinson in the third round, 77th overall, in the 2008 NHL Draft. The 6’3”, 200lbs. netminder earned his first career NHL win against Boston on April 10, 2014, after recording 32 saves on 33 shots. He has earned a 57-62-18 record in 154 career NHL games, with time in Winnipeg, Florida, Toronto, Colorado, Columbus, and Detroit. He holds a career 2.94 goals-against average, and .902 save percentage, with six shutouts. In 2014-15, he hit a career-high of 21 wins with Winnipeg. He helped the Jets clinch a postseason berth that same year with a 14-3-2 record and a .939 save percentage from October 24, 2014, to January 21, 2015.