RALEIGH, N.C. – The New Jersey Devils will be without defencemen Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon for Tuesday night`s Game 2 in their first-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed both players are sidelined, as neither participated in the morning skate. Both defencemen left Sunday`s Game 1 loss early due to the injuries, requiring assistance to get off the ice.
Keefe did not disclose the specifics of the injuries. These absences are a further blow to the team, which was already missing key players entering the Stanley Cup Playoffs. As a result, Simon Nemec, the second overall pick in the 2022 draft, and Dennis Cholowski will enter the lineup, marking their post-season debuts.
Coach Keefe commented on the situation, stating, “These are clearly significant losses for us, but not unprecedented given what we faced during the regular season. The message to the team remains consistent: we need to step up and overcome this challenge. We’ve done it before, and I expect the same now.”
Dillon was injured in the second period after a collision with Carolina`s William Carrier. He had difficulty standing and staying on his feet afterward. Keefe mentioned post-game that Dillon wanted to return to the game, but the medical staff did not clear him.
Hughes sustained his injury in the third period. After falling and ending up in the net, he was seen holding his left shoulder area. He did, however, manage to return to the game later.
The Devils` injury woes predate the playoffs, as they are already missing top center Jack Hughes, who is out for the season following shoulder surgery in March, and defenceman Jonas Siegenthaler, sidelined since February with a lower-body injury. Keefe had previously stated Siegenthaler is not expected to return during this series.
Carolina took a dominant 4-1 victory in the series opener, scoring the first three goals and holding a significant 4-to-1 shot advantage late in the second period.
However, the Devils received some positive news regarding center Cody Glass. He was on the ice and is cleared to play in Game 2. Glass was injured during the same chaotic sequence as Hughes in Game 1 when goaltender Jacob Markstrom, attempting to strike Carolina`s Andrei Svechnikov near the crease, accidentally hit Glass, who then fell painfully to the ice.
The game between the Devils and Hurricanes is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.
