Devils Lose More Players, Trail Hurricanes 2-0

The New Jersey Devils' injury crisis deepened as both Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon were ruled out of Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes after suffering injuries in Game 1. These absences exacerbate existing losses, with star forward Jack Hughes out for the postseason and defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler sidelined long-term. Rookies Simon Nemec and Dennis Cholowski made their Stanley Cup Playoff debuts to cover defensive gaps, but the Devils lost Game 2 by a score of 3-1, giving the Hurricanes a 2-0 series lead. Carolina's victory was driven by strong showings from Frederik Andersen and Jordan Martinook. Coach Sheldon Keefe called for remaining players to elevate their play amid the depleted roster. With mounting injuries, the Devils' playoff hopes are at risk of ending early.