New Jersey Devils 4-1 Game Lost Adds to Playoff Injury Nightmare

The New Jersey Devils’ playoff journey couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start.

In a rough 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday night, the Devils didn’t just lose on the scoreboard — they lost key players to injury, and with them, maybe a big chunk of hope for this first-round series.

Already limping into the postseason without star forward Jack Hughes and defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, the Devils saw two more important pieces — Brenden Dillon and Cody Glass — leave Game 1 with injuries. As if that wasn’t enough, Luke Hughes had a scary moment too, though he managed to gut it out and finish the game.

Brutal Breaks: Dillon and Glass Go Down

Midway through the second period, veteran defenseman Brenden Dillon got tangled up with Carolina’s William Carrier near the New Jersey net. The collision sent Dillon hard to the ice, and it was immediately clear something was wrong. Trainers rushed over as Dillon stayed down, and when he finally got up, it was with help, unable to put much weight on one leg.

After the game, coach Sheldon Keefe said Dillon had wanted to come back in but was kept out “for precautionary reasons.”

Then came another gut punch. In the third period, Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom, trying to protect his crease from Andrei Svechnikov, swung his stick — and accidentally clipped Cody Glass. Glass winced, dropped his stick, and skated off hunched over, disappearing down the tunnel. He never returned.

Just minutes earlier, Luke Hughes had gone flying into the Devils’ net after colliding with Svechnikov. He bolted off the ice, cradling his right arm, sending another wave of panic through the New Jersey bench. Thankfully, Hughes returned after a brief trip to the locker room.

Short-Staffed and Struggling

The Devils didn’t come into the playoffs at full strength, and now the situation looks even bleaker. With Jack Hughes out after shoulder surgery, and Siegenthaler missing in action, the Devils’ depth was already stretched. Losing Dillon and Glass makes things that much harder.

Keefe tried to stay positive afterward.

“This is the reality of playoff hockey,” he said. “No one’s going to feel sorry for us. We’ve got to find a way.”

The loss of Dillon, a key piece on defense, is especially painful. His physical presence and leadership were huge assets. Glass, meanwhile, had been finding his stride with New Jersey late in the season, providing reliable minutes in the bottom six.

Now, their status for Game 2 on Tuesday is uncertain at best.

Source: New Jersey Devils’ injury woes worsen in 4-1 Game 1 loss

Hurricanes Take Advantage

Carolina did what good playoff teams do: they sensed weakness and pounced. The Hurricanes used their depth and physicality to pressure the Devils all over the ice, especially as New Jersey’s bench thinned out.

Carrier, Svechnikov, and Sebastian Aho all contributed offensively, helping Carolina pull away after an early 1-1 tie. New Jersey looked exhausted in the third period, struggling to match Carolina’s pace as the minutes dragged on.

Jesper Bratt scored the Devils’ lone goal on the power play, but beyond that, New Jersey had few highlights to cling to.

The Mental Test Ahead

Physically, the Devils are beaten up. Mentally, they face an even bigger challenge.

Game 2 is already looming large. A second straight loss would put New Jersey in a massive hole. They need a short memory — and a huge effort — to bounce back.

Veteran leaders like Nico Hischier and Dougie Hamilton know the stakes.

“Nobody said this would be easy,” Hamilton said after the game. “We’ve got to dig deep. We’ve got to believe in ourselves.”

Keefe echoed those thoughts, stressing that the team still believes in the guys left standing.

“We’ve been through adversity before,” he said. “This is just another test.”

A Crucial Game 2

Tuesday’s game is a must-win, plain and simple. The Devils can’t afford to go down 2-0, especially with the injuries piling up.

As of late Sunday night, Keefe didn’t have much in the way of updates. Dillon, Glass, and Hughes will all be evaluated again Monday. There’s hope that Dillon’s removal was just cautionary, and that Glass’s injury isn’t serious. But hope doesn’t heal bodies overnight.

New Jersey may have to shuffle their lines, elevate depth players, and lean hard on grit and heart.

“No excuses,” Hischier said. “We have to be better. Period.”

The Devils’ season isn’t over after one bad night. But the hill just got a whole lot steeper.

Tuesday night, we’ll find out if they can start climbing it.

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