Jack Hughes Goes Down As New Jersey Devils Vs Vegas Golden Knights Ends In 2-0 Defeat

The New Jersey Devils had a tough night in Vegas during their game against the Vegas Golden Knights in the highly anticipated New Jersey Devils vs Vegas Golden Knights matchup, not just because of their 2-0 loss, but because they saw their star player, Jack Hughes, go down with an injury late in the game. It was the kind of moment that made everyone in the arena hold their breath.

With less than two minutes left in the game, Hughes and his younger brother, Luke, were pushing into the offensive zone on a two-on-one rush. It was a great scoring opportunity, but as Jack got closer to the net, he got tangled up with Vegas forward Jack Eichel. The next thing you knew, Hughes was down, sliding hard into the boards behind the net. He took a second to get up, clearly shaken, and left the ice with help from his teammates.

Frustration Boils Over for Devils Coach

Watching his best player go down like that was too much for Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe. He was furious at the officials, arguing that Eichel should’ve been called for tripping. Earlier in the period, Hughes had been given a penalty for what looked like a very similar play, which only added to Keefe’s frustration.

“It’s tough to see your best player go down like that,” Keefe said after the game. “We don’t know how serious it is yet, but it didn’t look good. We’ll take our time figuring it out.”

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Keefe’s argument got heated enough that the referees gave him a game misconduct, kicking him off the bench. After the game, he still wasn’t happy. “Jack got called for something just like this earlier,” Keefe said. “But now, he’s the one injured, and there’s no call? It makes no sense.”

Source: New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes exits loss with injury

A Tough Moment for Luke Hughes

After the game, the Devils’ locker room was a quiet, emotional place. Luke Hughes, Jack’s younger brother, looked visibly upset as he walked in. Reporters were told to wait outside so he could have a moment to process what had just happened.

It was clear how much the moment affected him. The two brothers have been living their NHL dream together, and now, Jack’s health was suddenly uncertain. Losing a player like Jack would be tough for any team, but for Luke, it was personal.

Jack Hughes Goes Down as New Jersey Devils vs Vegas Golden Knights Ends in 2-0 Defeat

How This Injury Could Shake Up the Devils Season

Jack Hughes has been the backbone of New Jersey’s offense this season. He leads the team in goals and points, with 27 goals and 70 points so far. But the Devils have been struggling to score since January, and losing their top playmaker right before the trade deadline could really shake things up.

The NHL trade deadline is coming up on Friday, and the Devils were already considering making some moves. But now, everything depends on how bad Hughes’ injury is. If he’s out long-term, they may have to change their entire strategy and look for someone who can help fill the gap.

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This isn’t the first time injuries have been a problem for Hughes. Last season, he missed 20 games, and the Devils ended up missing the playoffs. The year before, he was healthy for most of the season and had a career-high 99 points, helping New Jersey grab the No. 2 seed in their division and reach the second round of the playoffs.

A Tough Break Between Former Teammates

Adding an extra layer of intrigue to the situation is the fact that just a few weeks ago, Hughes and Eichel were actually teammates. They played together for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament last month, representing their country on the same side. Now, an unfortunate tangle between the two has left Hughes injured and Eichel at the center of a controversial no-call.

There’s no indication that the play was dirty—just an unfortunate accident—but it’s still a tough pill to swallow for Devils fans. Eichel didn’t receive a penalty, and the league hasn’t said anything about reviewing the play. Still, it’s likely to be a hot topic in the coming days.

For now, the Devils have to regroup and move forward. They wrap up their road trip on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars, but all eyes will be on Hughes’ status. The team and its fans are hoping for the best, but until they get more information, there’s a lot of uncertainty about what comes next.