The New Jersey Devils opened their four-game highway journey with a 2-1 time beyond regulation win over Calgary on Monday.
New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe, nevertheless, wasn’t in a celebratory temper afterward.
That is as a result of the Devils, who will play at Edmonton on Tuesday night time, can be with out star defenseman Luke Hughes for not less than the rest of the trek, which is able to finish with stops at Vancouver and Seattle.
Hughes, who leads the membership’s defensemen in scoring with 26 factors and the crew in common time on ice at 23:03, left Monday’s sport within the second interval, hunched over with a shoulder damage. He was getting his jersey tugged by Calgary ahead Justin Kirkland whereas pursuing a puck within the Flames’ defensive zone.
The 22-year-old Hughes, the No. 4 total choose of the 2021 NHL Draft, pulled up grimacing in ache and instantly skated to the bench.
He had shoulder surgical procedure on the finish of the 2024-25 season.
“He will should get evaluated, however he will should miss time for certain,” Keefe mentioned of Hughes, who signed a seven-year, $63 million contract with the Devils on Oct. 1. “We cannot see him on the remainder of the highway journey, and we are going to get him evaluated and decide the size of time from there.”
Defenseman Simon Nemec scored at 1:18 of time beyond regulation to present New Jersey its third win in 4 video games. Jesper Bratt arrange the objective with a kick go from the appropriate nook boards to Jack Hughes, who rapidly backhanded a go to Nemec in entrance of the objective. Nemec then calmly chipped the puck previous goalie Devin Cooley.
“With these guys on the ice, you simply try to discover a spot for a go,” Nemec mentioned. “I feel they did an important job. They discovered me net-front, and I simply completed.”
“Name it a goal-scorer’s objective,” Keefe mentioned. “Quite a lot of guys may need simply smashed that into the goaltender. Nice poise underneath strain. Large objective, and really effectively performed by him for certain.”
New Jersey improved to 9-2 in time beyond regulation video games, with Nemec main the best way with three game-winners.
“He is scored some nice clutch targets for us, and he was in the appropriate spot once more,” Keefe mentioned.
Edmonton might pull even with the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights in factors with a regulation win on Tuesday. The Oilers, who’re 12-6-4 at residence and produce a two-game profitable streak into the competition, can be with out middle Leon Draisaitl for the third straight sport.
Draisaitl, second on the crew in scoring with 67 factors and 25 targets, is taking a depart of absence to are inclined to a member of the family’s sickness in Germany.
In his stead, Edmonton has shutout wins at Vancouver (6-0 rating) on Saturday and vs. St. Louis (5-0) on Sunday.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, enjoying in his 1,000th NHL sport, scored what proved to be the game-winning objective on the facility play in opposition to the Blues.
Zach Hyman collected two targets and an help, and Connor Ingram made 27 saves.
“It was clearly enjoyable to try this on an evening like tonight,” mentioned Nugent-Hopkins, who acquired a silver stick and several other different items throughout a pregame ceremony.
“It is laborious to place in phrases proper now, nevertheless it was a enjoyable night time, and I assumed the blokes performed nice, and (Ingram) performed excellent.”
Oilers captain Connor McDavid added two assists and heads into Tuesday’s motion tied with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon for the NHL factors lead with 85.
–Discipline Stage Media
