In Las Vegas, a significant incident unfolded during the New Jersey Devils’ clash with the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night. Star player Jack Hughes, who tops the Devils’ scoring charts, sustained what looked like a severe injury late in the game’s concluding moments, with just 1:48 remaining. This came amid the team’s 2-0 defeat.
The incident involved a collision with Jack Eichel of the Golden Knights. Eichel remained at Hughes’ side briefly post-collision and seemed to offer some encouragement as Hughes departed the ice, holding his right arm as a sign of distress.
In the aftermath, Devils coach Sheldon Keefe expressed uncertainty about the injury’s specifics, reflecting concern about the severity of what transpired. “Obviously, it didn’t look good,” he noted, stressing the need for thorough evaluation to determine the true extent of the injury. This event echoed a similar scenario earlier in the match where Hughes faced an interference call at the start of the third period, a moment that had previously triggered the Golden Knights’ first goal.
Compounding the tension, Keefe found himself ejected from the game for challenging the referees’ decisions. “I got kicked off the bench for telling the referee I felt that it was 10 times worse than the one that was previously called on Jack,” said Keefe as he defended his stance.
The situation was visibly emotional for Hughes’ brother, Luke, as he entered the locker room following the game. The media were temporarily removed from the area to afford some solitude and privacy.
Jack Hughes has been instrumental for the Devils this season, amassing an impressive 27 goals and 70 points so far. His contributions include 43 assists, ranking just behind Jesper Bratt’s 51. The loss of Hughes could pose a significant challenge for New Jersey, especially after recently regaining the services of goaltender Jacob Markstrom who had been sidelined due to injury. Hughes has been a standout figure in Keefe’s inaugural season as head coach, offering exceptional performances prior to this setback.
With the immediate future unclear and pending medical evaluation, the team and its supporters await further news on Hughes’ condition, hopeful for a swift recovery.
