Jack Hughes’ Scary Injury, Sheldon Keefe Ejected, Devils Suffer Brutal Shutout in Vegas

The New Jersey Devils almost looked like they were turning the page on the narrative that they can’t hang with playoff-bound teams since Christmas, until they didn’t.

When your star player suffers what looked like a devastating injury and your head coach is ejected, it leaves little to feel good about despite playing a strong game for 40 minutes.

In his 200th NHL game, Paul Cotter returned where it all started for him in the NHL, as the former Golden Knight suited up as a visitor in T-Mobile Arena for the first time.

The Devils got off to a much better start against the Golden Knights as opposed to the last time they hosted Vegas in New Jersey.

The most noticeable thing out of the gate was that Jacob Markstrom picked up from where he left off before his MCL sprain.

New Jersey and Vegas traded scoring chances throughout the opening 20 minutes. The Devils netminder made a few key stops to keep Vegas off the board and help send the play to the other end of the ice.

As the first period unfolded, however, you could also see the confidence beginning to build in the Devils versus a perennial NHL heavyweight. Early on, head coach Sheldon Keefe had all four lines rolling, and the Devils matched the Golden Knights’ pace.

The second period brought more of the same as the first.

For a moment, the Devils struggled to get out of their own end of the ice early. However, they weathered the momentary storm and moved the puck away from danger.

It was a tight-knit, playoff-like atmosphere through the first 40 minutes, with plenty of shots and heavy hits. Ironically enough, however, the referees swallowed the whistles as neither side drew a penalty in the first two periods.

When the first mistake was finally made, the first goal of the game followed.

The officials called Jack Hughes for interference early in the third period, and the Golden Knights went to the power play. It took just 15 seconds for Vegas to convert, a shot by Noah Hanifin from the point that was redirected past Markstrom by Mark Stone.

Not only did the Devils’ first mistake bite them, but their second did as well.

The Devils were caught with too many men on the ice, and Cotter sat to serve the two-minute minor penalty.

The former Golden Knight didn’t get too comfortable in the Devils’ penalty box, however, as Hanifin’s point blast this time got through traffic for his seventh goal of the season, extending Vegas’ lead to 2-0.

The Devils went to the man advantage when Raphael Lavoie was called for a slashing minor on Luke Hughes. Yet, New Jersey couldn’t make good on the power play.

The Golden Knights know how to lock a game down in their own barn, and they sure did on Sunday against the Devils. However, New Jersey couldn’t escape without adding injury to insult.

Jack Hughes became tied up with Jack Eichel on a rush play in Vegas’ end. It resulted in Hughes crashing into the end-boards below the Vegas goal line.

The Devils’ star player laid down on the ice in pain, before getting to his feet. The following image was what looked devastating, as Hughes skated off the ice hunched over with his right shoulder seemingly hanging.

And yes, if it is a shoulder injury, it’s the same shoulder as the one he had surgically repaired last spring.

The Devils’ head coach was ejected from the game after he chewed out the officials for not calling a penalty on the play.

The final buzzer rang, and the Devils were defeated 2-0.

In his return, Markstrom stopped 22/24 pucks.

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